Who is the biggest name in the Miami Heat after Dwyane Wade? Stardom-wise, most NBA fans would hold LeBron James an equal or maybe even superior to Wade. But that does not count in the legacy of the Miami Heat. Yes, his contribution to the Heat with 2 championships with the team is undeniable. But when it comes to the team’s legacy, The Flash stands at the apex position. And LeBron does not come second in line – something that Wade earlier and now even Pat Riley seems to believe.
The Flash had earlier, in an interview with REVOLVE, stated that the next star who deserves a statue from Heat is none other than Udonis Haslem. “His work that he’s done on the basketball court is hand in hand with what I’ve done…” Wade said. Now, even the Heat president seems to have a similar chain of thought. “… One day we will have that. Put up your statue up here…” Riley said, addressing UD at D-Wade’s statue unveiling event.
Thinking about it—Haslem’s journey hasn’t been the typical NBA story. As a Miami native who went undrafted in 2002, his road to success was anything but smooth. Yet instead of giving up, UD joined the Heat and dedicated himself to the team he grew up watching. The 20 seasons and 3 championships that he won alongside Dwyane Wade for the team is a testament to this.
Notably, only two other players—Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki—can claim 20 years with a single franchise. But Haslem stands out as the only one who did it with his hometown team. As Wade put it, Udonis’ legacy is one that “will live on way beyond his lifetime.” No wonder that even after UD retired, Miami kept him close, naming him vice president of basketball development in 2023.
Haslem, as of now reportedly, works alongside the Heat’s coaching staff and mentoring players. Both in Miami and on their G-League affiliate team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Additionally, it’s not lost on Pat Riley that the 3x NBA champ has potential beyond this—possibly in coaching.
Riley even admitted, “I keep nudging him about it.” He knows Haslem would bring the same grit to coaching that he brought as a player. After all this, it’s easy to see why Wade believes UD deserves a statue of his own.
Fans of Dwyane Wade not happy with his statue?
The Flash’s legacy with the Miami Heat was cemented Sunday with the unveiling of a bronze statue at Kaseya Arena. Capturing his iconic “This is my house!” celebration, the statue shows Wade in his Heat uniform, finger raised in his signature pose. Alongside the statue stands a wall of the 3x NBA champ’s career achievements, showcasing his impact on the team and the NBA.
Wade seemed taken aback by the tribute. “This is crazy,” he said, reveling in the moment. “Life goes by so fast, and it’s very rare that we get to feel things… I wanted to feel this, man.” He joked about seeing himself cast in bronze, exclaiming, “Who’s that guy?”
However, some fans online didn’t share the Miami Heat icon’s enthusiasm, pointing out that the statue doesn’t quite capture his likeness. One user on X humorously echoed Wade’s own words, commenting, “We’re all wondering the same thing (Who’s that guy).” ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington also poked fun at the statue. Suggesting the Heat should have tested fans’ ability to identify the figure as Wade. “Anyone who guesses it’s Dwyane Wade gets to keep the statue.”
While Dwyane Wade himself was visibly moved by the honor, the statue’s likeness—or lack thereof—became the focus of playful online banter. Hopefully there’s a different reaction, when, as said by Pat Riley, it actually comes to Udonis Haslem’s statue from Heat.
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