The Miami Heat’s recent unveiling of Dwyane Wade’s statue has become quite the talking point, with responses ranging from polite nods to outright criticism.
While Wade himself has handled the feedback with characteristic grace, one prominent NBA voice had remained notably silent – until now.
Charles Barkley, never one to mince words, finally shared his thoughts on NBA on TNT, delivering a trademark roasting session about it.
“It’s a great honor. But they gotta take that thing down… If you made an ugly statue, that’s what it would look like. That thing’s awful,” Barkley said.
He also added, “The statue was so bad they had to put all of his stats behind it so you know who it was.”
Charles Barkley on the Dwyane Wade statue:
"It's a great honor. But they gotta take that thing down…That thing is awful.”
(via @NBAonTNT)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 29, 2024
While Shaq kept relatively quiet, likely out of respect for his ties to Wade and the Heat, his subtle chuckles and notable silence during Kenny’s defense of the statue told their own story.
Bronze sculpting is undoubtedly challenging, but as Ernie pointed out, the primary goal is capturing the subject’s essence – something this statue might have missed the mark on.
Nevertheless, the unveiling ceremony at Miami’s Kaseya Center was a family affair, with Wade joined by his wife Gabrielle Union-Wade and loved ones.
The statue commemorates a defining moment from 2009, when Wade, after sinking a game-winner in double overtime against the Bulls, proclaimed, “This is my house.”
It’s a fitting tribute to his 13 remarkable seasons with the Heat, even if the execution has sparked some playful debate.
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