The ‘Magic City’ is gearing up for a historic NBA moment. The Miami Heat organization is set to unveil a bronze statue for the franchise’s most versatile player, Dwyane Wade outside of the Kaseya Centre on Oct 27. But the fun doesn’t end there. The next day, the Heat are going to recognize him with a ceremony during the halftime of the matchup against the Detroit Pistons. However, amidst this celebratory atmosphere, a surprising twist has emerged.
In the recent episode of the ‘Gil’s Arena’ podcast, Josiah Johnson brought up the topic that if Wade is getting a statue, then LeBron James, who has played for the team for four years, should also get a statue. Rashad McCant took up this question and added Shaquille O’Neal should also get a statue of his own to which Gilbert Arenas was quick to share his opinion. “LeBron actually played very well… No, but what I’m saying is LeBron played very well in Miami. Shaq played alright,” said Arenas during the podcast. So why did the former shooting guard say this?
Maybe Arenas’ rationale for favoring James over O’Neal is rooted in his perception of on-court performance. Shaq joined the Heat organization in 2003, which is at the later part of his career. The ‘Big Diesel’ had already given his peak performance when he was with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers. Although the seven-footer won the championship in 2006, he can’t be given the full credit for it. Wade, who was at the peak of his career, had supported the team alongside him, which led to the championship win. Moreover, in the 2005-2006 season, Shaq had averaged 20 PPG, 9.2 RPG, and 1.9 APG. But in contrast, James had a better stat line in his championship year.
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The L-Train won the championship for the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013. His stat line line clearly showed the gap when compared with that of Shaq’s. Time to check on the numbers. During the 2012 championship run, James had averaged 27.1 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 6.2 APG. Similarly, in the following year, King James averaged 26.8 PPG, 8 RPG, and 7.3 APG, which were still better stats than Shaq’s when he won the championship. Therefore, it can be said that LeBron’s chances of getting a statue built by the Heat are higher since his impact was better.
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While Arenas’ comments are bound to spark debate among basketball fans, they raise valid questions about the criteria for selecting players for statues. However, James and Shaq weren’t the only players who were brought up during the podcast regarding getting a statue.
Other Miami Heat players who were mentioned during the podcast worthy of a statue
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As the debate of who is the most worthy of getting a statue continued, other players who once played for the Heat and are worthy of a statue were also mentioned. “Do you go back and say well, Chris Bosh should get a statue,” stated Sheryl Swoopes. But not only that, the crew also mentioned Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem.
Mourning, who was a defensive stalwart and also who helped players like Wade and Shaq to deliver such an elite performance during the 2006 NBA championship, has a strong case for the statue. His defensive abilities really benefited the organization during that era. Another player who holds a strong case for getting a statue is former power forward and current analyst Udonis Haslem. With his help, the Heat were able to clinch the championship in 2006, 2012, and 2013. Lastly comes Bosh who had helped the team alongside Haslem to clinch the championship.
Still, the decision of whether or not to erect statues for Mourning, Bosh, and Haslem ultimately lies with the Heat organization. The contributions of these players to the franchise’s history and success cannot be overstated, and a statue would serve as a tribute to their legacies.
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Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger