A newly unveiled statue of NBA star Dwyane Wade in Miami, depicting his iconic “this is my house” celebration after a game-winning three-pointer against the Chicago Bulls in 2009, has ignited mixed reactions from fans. While Dwyane Wade himself praised the statue, calling it “beautiful,” fans have criticized the sculpture’s resemblance, with some comparing the statue’s face to actors Laurence Fishburne or Kelsey Grammer. Fellow NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce joined the critics, suggesting that Wade’s legacy deserved a “redo.”
The statue, crafted by sculptor Omri Amrani, was designed to reflect Wade’s own choice of the celebrated moment. Amrani defended the work, telling Front Office Sports that art is meant to provoke responses, positive or negative: “You cannot expect all of human society will have a positive reaction.”
Despite online criticism, including comparisons to a zombie from I Am Legend, Wade expressed his support for the statue, telling the Miami Herald: “I think it’s one of the best statues that’s been created because of what it represents for us and for me.”
A History of Criticized Statues
This incident is reminiscent of other infamous statues, like the controversial statue of Cristiano Ronaldo, which was remodeled after public outcry, and the “Scary Lucy” statue of comedian Lucille Ball, replaced in 2016 following a campaign for its removal.
