Miami Heat Unveil 2nd Dwyane Wade Statue After First Was Panned

The Miami Heat have unveiled a second statue of Dwyane Wade after the original version was widely panned for not resembling him, The Associated Press reported.

The franchise commissioned the update rather than leaving the first statue in place, according to AP's report.

Why was the original Wade statue panned?

AP's reporting describes the first statue as having been "widely panned" over its likeness to Wade, a guard who built his career with the Heat. The outlet did not detail which specific features drew the most criticism in the material reviewed for this report.

What is different about the new statue?

AP characterizes the replacement as an "updated" version of the tribute. Specific sculptural changes — facial features, pose, or materials — were not broken out in the available reporting.

By the numbers

• 1st statue: drew widespread criticism for not resembling Wade, per AP
• 2nd statue: unveiled by the Heat as a corrected version, per AP

Has the team or Wade commented on the update?

The available AP material does not include direct quotes from the Heat organization or from Wade himself about the redo. No statement from either party was included in the source report reviewed for this article.

Why does a statue redo matter for a franchise?

Teams that install statues of franchise figures typically do so to mark a permanent tribute outside or inside their arenas. A botched likeness can draw public scrutiny quickly, since fans and media compare the sculpture against the player's actual appearance in photos and broadcasts. The Heat's decision to replace rather than simply defend the original suggests the organization treated the criticism as substantive enough to warrant a new commission, though AP's report does not quote team officials explaining that reasoning.

Further details — including when the original was first unveiled, who sculpted either version, and whether the Heat issued a formal statement — were not included in the source material available for this report. Readers seeking the full account, including any additional comment from the team, can consult AP's original story for updates as the Heat organization or Wade's representatives respond publicly.

What happens to the first statue now?

AP's report does not say whether the Heat removed the original statue, placed it in storage, or kept it on display alongside the new version. The franchise's plans for the first sculpture were not addressed in the material reviewed for this report.

What is Wade's history with the Heat?

AP identifies Wade as a guard who built his career with the Heat, the basis for the franchise's decision to honor him with a statue. The report does not detail the full scope of his tenure, statistics, or championship history with the team, so those figures are omitted here pending additional reporting.

Is this the first time a team has redone a player statue?

AP's account does not compare the Heat's move to similar redos by other franchises. Whether this marks a rare occurrence in professional sports or fits a broader pattern of teams correcting likenesses after public criticism was not addressed in the source material available for this report.