On October 27, Miami Heat honored the Dwyane Wade with an 8-foot bronze statue at the Kaseya Center. The tribute captured Wade in his iconic “This is my house” pose, immortalizing his clutch double-overtime win against the Chicago Bulls back in 2009. But what should have been a celebration took an unexpected turn. Fans and even NBA legends started trolling the statue’s resemblance, or lack thereof, to Wade. Yet, amidst all the noise, his daughter Kaavia stole the spotlight with a reaction that left Wade completely speechless.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Dwyane Wade opened up about the honor and how much it meant for his family. “I want my kids to be the most inspired,” he shared. And it seems Kaavia took that to heart. Wade recounted the surprising moment: “So my daughter walked away from that statue and she’s like, ‘Pops, what’s up? Let’s hoop.’ I’m like, you want to hoop? Man, I’m excited about that, dog.”

When asked if he’d consider coaching a team, Wade shared, “I’m training my daughter; I’m her coach right now.” He then reflected on the experience, noting how different it is from raising his eldest son, Zaire, during his NBA days. “When Zaire was growing up, I had just started my career, so I wasn’t around much. Now, I can lock in and be present. Teaching girls is way different than teaching boys, but I’m really enjoying it,” he said.

Meanwhile, not everyone shared Kaavia’s enthusiasm. NBA greats Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley poked fun at the statue on Inside the NBA, with Barkley calling it “ugly.” Even Carmelo Anthony, a longtime friend, quipped that Wade “loved the process and forgot the outcome.”

But Wade remains unfazed. Addressing the criticism, he quipped, “If I wanted it to look like me, I’d just stand outside the arena, and y’all can take photos.” For him, the statue represents a moment in time—not a perfect replica. And as the trolls keep talking, Wade’s focus stays firmly on inspiring his “next generation.”

Wade’s current focus is on family

When Dwyane Wade sat down on the Unapologetically Angel podcast with Angel Reese, fans got a glimpse into his thoughts on coaching. During a fan Q&A session called “Reese’s Pieces,” one fan asked Wade if he ever saw himself coaching a team. Wade’s responded: “I really don’t want that life, but I would not say no.”

But Reese didn’t stop there. She asked if Wade would consider coaching his kids, and his answer came with a twist. “If I needed to… I really feel like if my daughter plays basketball, I think I may be a coach. I definitely think I’m going to be that guy,” Wade admitted. However, he also reflected on the broader picture. “I don’t really know if coaching is my thing. I love giving back to the game… but you never want to say never because that may be a part of your calling.”

Wade’s perspective was clear—whether from the sidelines or his current role, he feels he has plenty to offer. “I’ve got a lot to give, and I can give it from that seat,” he said. “But I’m good right now.” Still, he left the door slightly open, hinting that coaching might be in his future if the right opportunity arises.

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With three NBA titles, 13 All-Star appearances, and an undeniable passion for the game, Wade’s potential as a coach isn’t far-fetched.