Heat legend Dwyane Wade will be honored with a statue outside of Miami’s arena later this year as team exec Pat Riley calls retired guard ‘the face of the franchise’

The Miami Heat have announced that franchise legend Dwyane Wade will be honored with a bronze statue outside the Kaseya Center during the fall later this year.

Team president Pat Riley made the announcement Sunday night as the team held a ceremony honoring Wade’s enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame last year during halftime of Miami’s 104-87 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

“When we retired his jersey in February 2020, I said Dwyane was the face of this franchise forever, and I meant it,” Riley said.

“Dwyane’s legacy is enormous, not only for the Miami Heat but also for Miami-Wade County. I can’t think of a better way to honor him than by remembering that legacy.”

Wade retired after the 2018-19 season and holds the Heat’s franchise records for points, assists, steals, games and minutes played. He also won three NBA championships during his time in Miami.

Team president Pat Riley (R) made the announcement during a ceremony honoring Wade

Wade played 15 seasons in a Miami Heat uniform, setting several records and winning three titles

During his sixteen seasons in the NBA, Wade wore a Miami Heat jersey for fifteen seasons. His career also included a stint with his hometown Chicago Bulls.

“I was born and raised in Chicago, but this is where I grew up,” Wade said during the ceremony.

‘I grew up here from the age of 21 to the age of 37. A large part of the fanbase grew up with me. … There’s no love like Miami love, and every time I come back here, I feel that.”

Miami will use sculptors Omri Amrany and Oscar Leon to create Wade’s statue.

Armany also worked on statues for fellow NBA legends Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Dirk Nowitzki and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The Heat are also set to retire fellow franchise legend Udonis Haslem’s No. 40 jersey during their next home game Friday against the Brooklyn Nets.

They previously honored Haslem with its own section in the arena.