MIAMI — Dwyane Wade has made history as the inaugural Miami Heat player to have a statue erected outside the team’s arena.

The statue was unveiled on Sunday, approximately eight months after team president Pat Riley revealed plans for this honor. Wade holds the distinction of being Miami’s all-time leading scorer and is one of two players, alongside Udonis Haslem, to have contributed to all three of the Heat’s NBA championship victories.

“This is astonishing,” Wade expressed shortly following the statue’s reveal. “I needed to experience this moment. Life moves quickly, making it rare for us to truly savor these experiences, as we often rush to what’s next. … I wanted to take this in, man. I wanted to really look at it.”

An in-game celebration will take place on Monday when the Miami Heat face off against the Detroit Pistons, marking the 21st anniversary of Wade’s debut with the franchise.

Wade, who is a proud member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, is among six former players whose numbers have been retired by the Heat. The list also includes fellow legends like Haslem, Chris Bosh, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, and Alonzo Mourning.

As Riley stated, “As the greatest player in Miami Heat history, this is indeed his day and equally a day for his family.”

The statue is flanked by a wall that highlights Wade’s numerous career achievements and is prominently placed at the entrance of the team’s arena. In addition to his accolades on the court, Wade is also now part of the ownership group of the Utah Jazz, alongside various other business ventures he is involved in.