MIAMI (AP) — Dwyane Wade has a new face — on his statue.
Mindful of criticism that started coming in waves immediately after the statue outside the arena where the Miami Heat play was unveiled in his honor two years ago, Wade revealed Friday that he consented to having a new head made for the piece.
The original statue was widely panned because the face bore almost no resemblance to Wade, who spent the majority of his Basketball Hall of Fame career starring for the Heat and was a major part of Miami’s three NBA championship teams.
“I had to ask myself a pretty simple question: ‘If people don’t feel that connection when they look at the face, why wouldn’t we try to make it better?’” Wade wrote in an essay published on Friday. “So, we listened and had honest conversations with everyone involved, and we all agreed to make adjustments to the head.”
The work on the sculpture was completed in the last few days, with a plywood box placed over it to keep the public from seeing what was happening. The Heat posted photos of the new, improved statue on Friday, not long before Wade’s essay went public.
“This isn’t about erasing the work that was already done or disrespecting the artists who put their time and talent into creating it. It’s about being willing to listen,” Wade wrote. “It’s about recognizing when something carries meaning for more people than just yourself and being open enough to revisit it.”
The original version of the statue was, in Wade’s words, an “artistic version of a moment that happened.” That moment was the end of a game against the Chicago Bulls in March 2009, when he made a shot to win as time was expiring in double overtime, hopped up onto a courtside table as Heat fans roared and yelled, “This is my house.” The way his body is depicted in the statue seems to be reminiscent of that moment. The face, not so much.
“The 305 deserves to look at that statue and feel the same energy it felt that night,” Wade wrote, referring to Miami by its primary area code. “And the fans deserve to see themselves in that moment because their noise, their belief and their love were part of what made it possible.
“So we listened. We went back to work. And we made the adjustments. I hope when people see it now, they see a better likeness of me. But more than that, I hope they see themselves. Because it may be my likeness, but it will always be our house.”
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Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade and wife Gabrielle Union leave the court after watching an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade walks on the court during a time out while watching an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Dallas Mavericks, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — LaMelo Ball had a season-high 24 points and Jaden McDaniels scored 23 as the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers 127-101 on Friday night in NBA Cup group play for their first win without star Anthony Edwards.
Bones Hyland added 19 points and eight assists off the bench for the Timberwolves (4-2), who offered a glimpse of how they can still thrive while Edwards recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery.
After a 127-125 overtime loss at Cleveland on Monday, a fresh exam for Edwards indicated the need for the procedure after the wear-and-tear injury limited him to a career-low 61 regular-season games in 2025-26. The Timberwolves were out of sorts for most of a 119-114 loss to Golden State on Wednesday, before regrouping behind their new star Ball and the two-way excellence of McDaniels.
Ball made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves used a 20-2 surge to run away with the game. Each of their four victories have come by more than 20 points. McDaniels finished 11 for 15 from the floor, with seven assists and six rebounds.
Backup guard Jaylen Clark relieved McDaniels from some of the defensive duty on Darius Garland and helped force five turnovers by the Clippers star. Clark had five points, two steals and a plus-23 rating in 17 minutes.
Garland scored 24 points on 10-for-22 shooting and Brook Lopez added 13 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Clippers (1-4), who lost their fourth consecutive game. They've played so far without newcomers Brandon Ingram and Max Strus due to foot injuries.
Clippers rookie Keaton Wagler had 12 points on 2-for-11 shooting and was minus-24. Rui Hachimura returned to the starting lineup from a one-game absence (quadriceps) with 12 points in 26 minutes.
Clippers: At the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Timberwolves: At the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
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Los Angeles Clippers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) loses control of the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball, center, defends during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball dribbles downcourt during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball (1) shoots over Los Angeles Clippers forward Isaiah Jackson, right, during the first half of an NBA Cup basketball game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Minnesota Timberwolves guard LaMelo Ball (1) celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA Cup basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
