Dwyane Wade's unrecognizable statue sparks internet meme frenzy

Oct 28 2024, 3:59 pm

NBA legend Dwyane Wade was presented with the ultimate honour over the weekend when the Miami Heat unveiled an eight-foot-tall statue in his likeness.

Wade joined hundreds of fans for a first look at the bronze sculpture, which captures his iconic ā€œThis is my houseā€ celebration from Miami’s double-overtime win over the Chicago Bulls in 2009.

But once the smoke cleared, a problem quickly became apparent ā€” the statue looked nothing like him.

 

What should have been a heartfelt tribute has instead become a paradise for internet meme-lovers, with users across social media platforms sharing their takes on the ā€” well, letā€™s just say ā€œinterestingā€ ā€” installation.

For many, the statue brought back memories of the infamous Cristiano Ronaldo bust unveiled at Madeira Airport in 2017.

Others made more unique connections, with one user comparing Wade’s jaw to that of Marvel villain Thanos.

One X user said the figure’s face is a better representation of actor Gary Sinise than of the 13-time NBA All-Star.

“Why did they make Dwyane Wade look like the villain from The Mask?” one user asked, providing a photo from the hit 90s film for reference.

Daily Hiveā€™s own Adam Laskaris even joined the fun, arguing that moments like these make a strong case for increased arts funding.

Aside from comparisons, some fans have taken to placing the statue’s face over actual photos of Wade to point out the statue’s lack of resemblance to the latter.

But while fans weighed in online, Wade himself couldnā€™t have been more pleased. Speaking with reporters after the unveiling, the three-time NBA champ expressed pure joy at the new landmark: ā€œI was just like, ā€˜Thatā€™s beautiful.ā€™ Iā€™m personally biased, but I think itā€™s one of the best statues thatā€™s been created,ā€ the 42-year-old said.

For better or worse, this statue is now part of Miami Heat history and a fixture in internet meme culture.

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