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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

This is one of the few times when Dwyane Wade is happy, yet his fans aren’t. Even some NBA stars seem bothered by the situation. It’s the 3 X NBA champion’s life-size statue unveiling day. It’s a big day for the Heat legend and his fans. However, it’s the franchise that’s receiving all the criticism. Ex-NBA player Nick Young took it a step further by sharing his opinion on the newly unveiled a bronze statue of the Heat legend. But why are they upset?

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Netizens appear to be on a roast game, as Wade’s statue doesn’t resemble him at all. Young also expressed his discontent but for a slightly different reason than what the fans had pointed out. He remarked that the statue looked like a 70-year-old version of Wade. 

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Taking to X, Young wrote, “Come On now they messing up with these statues first A.I  now Flase lol that look like 70 yr old Dwade  😂😂😂 or just a big black dude yelling 😂😂😂😂 The Lakers the only team that do it right.” 

The pose of the statue captures one of Wade’s iconic moments in a game against the Chicago Bulls, known as ‘This is my house.’ It depicts Wade’s celebration after his game-winning shot in overtime. This was when he was just 27 years old.

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Rashad McCants found an almost dangerous edit where the statue is photoshopped in Wade’s face in his wedding picture alongside his wife Gabrielle Union. “Ok who needs to be fined for this???? Lmaooooo 😂😂😂😂 #LaughOutLoud,” McCants wrote on his X. 

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The sentiment among fans is much the same, as previously mentioned. A similar reaction occurred when Wade’s idol, Iverson, was honored by the Philadelphia 76ers. While he praised the Lakers, Young noted what he saw as an oversight regarding Iverson’s statue. Then again, perhaps it wasn’t a mistake at all.

Fans were upset with this one element of Allen Iverson’s statue 

Iverson is the 10th ex-NBA player to be honored with a statue by the Philadelphia 76ers. Joining the list of honorees, which includes Charles Barkley, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, and others, Iverson’s statue was erected on Legends Walk.

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The big news was announced on the 10th anniversary of Iverson’s jersey number 3 being retired, and many were looking forward to this moment. 

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However, fans were quickly disappointed when a photo of Iverson posing with the statue surfaced online. Many felt it was smaller than expected and saw it as disrespectful. Iverson, however, responded that the size was appropriate, clarifying that it is, in fact, a sculpture, not a statue.

In contrast, there aren’t such mistakes regarding the Miami Heat legend Wade’s statue. While Swaggy P praised the Lakers, it’s notable that the Amrany Studio sculptors, Omri Amrany and Oscar León, behind Wade’s statue are the same sculptors who crafted Michael Jordan‘s statue in Chicago and two of Kobe Bryant’s statues.

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Regardless, netizens on social media are busy with their roast game, similar to previous instances. What matters is that Wade is happy and satisfied with the statue!

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Pritha Debroy

3,476 Articles

Pritha Debroy works with the NFL Lifestyle Desk at EssentiallySports, where she explores the league beyond the sidelines and focuses on the cultural nuances of football. Bringing a fresh perspective shaped by her background in basketball lifestyle stories and cross-sport expertise, she highlights how NFL athletes build influence off the field. A graduate of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, our in-house initiative that trains writers under industry experts, Pritha specializes in long-form features and player-driven stories that capture the evolving identity of today’s NFL stars. Pritha combines her passion for storytelling with a thoughtful approach to sports culture and lifestyle. With strong communication skills and an eye for detail, she brings a distinctive voice to NFL journalism, delivering engaging and insightful content that resonates with readers.

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Suman Varandani

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