Wade's shots during Canadian anthem spark some outrage

May 8, 2016

foxsports

MIAMI (AP) Dwyane Wade's pregame routine has sparked a bit of an international incident.

The Miami star has been the subject of some outrage after video showed him taking a few extra warm-up shots as the Canadian national anthem was being performed before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Toronto on Saturday.

Wade tends to not line up for the pregame anthem ceremony without making his last shot, usually a bank shot from the left wing - even when only ''The Star-Spangled Banner'' is played.

''I'm not a disrespectful person,'' Wade said Sunday. ''So if anybody thinks I'm being disrespectful to a country, then they don't know who Dwyane Wade is.''

Wade said he'd adjust his pregame ritual for Game 4 of the series Monday night.

The anthem before Miami home games is usually played at the end of the warmup period. When the Raptors - Canada's only NBA team - come to Miami, the anthems are played about 12 minutes earlier.

''If people aren't here, they see video footage of what they want to see,'' Wade said.

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