Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade drives past Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll in Game 3 of their playoff series Saturday.
Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade drives past Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll in Game 3 of their playoff series Saturday.
Issac Baldizon/NBAE/Getty Images

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Story highlights

A video clip shows Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade shooting jump shots during the Canadian national anthem

Per the NBA rule book, teams are to line up in a dignified posture during the playing of the anthem

Wade defended his actions, saying he is not a disrespectful person

CNN  — 

As the Toronto Raptors try to reach their first-ever Eastern Conference final, fans in Canada have new motivation to root against guard Dwyane Wade and the opposing Miami Heat.

A video clip that made the rounds online shows Wade shooting jump shots while warming up with forward Amar’e Stoudemire during the performance of “O Canada” ahead of Game 3 at American Airlines Arena in Miami.

The Heat lost 95-91; Wade scored a game-high 38 points.

On Sunday, Wade defended his actions, but he didn’t exactly apologize.

“It’s something that I do before every game that I prepare for, and I’ve been doing it my whole career,” said the Heat’s star guard. “So I understand whatever is said from that standpoint, but I’m not a disrespectful person. So if anybody thinks I’m being disrespectful towards a country, then they have no idea of who Dwyane Wade is.”

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    Wade said the situation came down to timing, explaining that Saturday’s team pregame routine started a little bit later than compared to when the Heat were in Toronto for Games 1 and 2.

    “It was no disrespect from myself or Amar’e or anybody,” Wade said. “And if anybody feels like it was, please don’t fill up my timeline with disrespectful comments because that’s not this guy right here. Find somebody else for that. But we’ll adjust our pregame routine for the next game.”

    Related story: Why won’t the Heat let Chris Bosh play?

    Toronto Mayor John Tory fired back on Twitter, directing a tweet toward Wade saying “a Canadian invented the game,” referring to James Naismith. “Respect the anthem.”

    Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun added, “Not a fan of anthems before games but will say if a Canadian did what Wade did yesterday for the other anthem, there’d be huge outrage.”

    Meanwhile, Associated Press sportswriter Tim Reynolds, who tweeted that Wade has done this before during the “Star Spangled Banner,” had a different take, saying rather than being disrespectful, Wade was just trying to make one final shot in warmups.

    Technically, what Wade did was against NBA rules. From the NBA rule book: “Players, coaches and trainers are to stand and line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line during the playing of the National Anthem.”

    CNN reached out to the NBA to see if the league would reprimand Wade or the Heat.

    The Boston Celtics celebrate after winning the NBA championship in June 2008. It was the 17th title for the Celtics -- the most in league history. Take a look back at some of the greatest records set in the NBA Finals.
    The Boston Celtics celebrate after winning the NBA championship in June 2008. It was the 17th title for the Celtics -- the most in league history. Take a look back at some of the greatest records set in the NBA Finals.
    Jim Davis/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
    <strong>Most NBA titles (player):</strong> Bill Russell, seen here with legendary coach Red Auerbach, won 11 titles in his 13 NBA seasons. The big man won all of them with Boston, starting in 1957 and ending in 1969.
    Most NBA titles (player): Bill Russell, seen here with legendary coach Red Auerbach, won 11 titles in his 13 NBA seasons. The big man won all of them with Boston, starting in 1957 and ending in 1969.
    AP
    <strong>Most career points in the NBA Finals:</strong> Nobody's scored more than Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West, who put up 1,679 points over nine NBA Finals. West and the Lakers usually ran into the buzz saw that was Boston in the 1960s, but they did win a title in 1972. Fun fact: The NBA logo is a silhouette of West.
    Most career points in the NBA Finals: Nobody's scored more than Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West, who put up 1,679 points over nine NBA Finals. West and the Lakers usually ran into the buzz saw that was Boston in the 1960s, but they did win a title in 1972. Fun fact: The NBA logo is a silhouette of West.
    George Long/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
    <strong>Most points per game in an NBA Finals series:</strong> Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won six NBA titles during his career. But "His Airness" might have been at his peak in 1993, when he averaged 41 points in a six-game victory over Dan Majerle and the Phoenix Suns.
    Most points per game in an NBA Finals series: Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won six NBA titles during his career. But "His Airness" might have been at his peak in 1993, when he averaged 41 points in a six-game victory over Dan Majerle and the Phoenix Suns.
    Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
    <strong>Most points in an NBA Finals game:</strong> The Lakers' Elgin Baylor scored 61 points during a Finals game against Boston on April 14, 1962. The Lakers won that game but went on to lose the series in Game 7, pictured here.
    Most points in an NBA Finals game: The Lakers' Elgin Baylor scored 61 points during a Finals game against Boston on April 14, 1962. The Lakers won that game but went on to lose the series in Game 7, pictured here.
    AP
    <strong>Most common matchup in the NBA Finals:</strong> The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have played each other 12 times in the Finals. The Celtics won the first eight meetings, but the Lakers broke the streak in 1985 and 1987, pictured here. The teams also split a pair of Finals in the 21st century. While the Celtics have a league-best 17 titles, the Lakers are right behind them with 16. The Chicago Bulls are the next closest at six.
    Most common matchup in the NBA Finals: The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have played each other 12 times in the Finals. The Celtics won the first eight meetings, but the Lakers broke the streak in 1985 and 1987, pictured here. The teams also split a pair of Finals in the 21st century. While the Celtics have a league-best 17 titles, the Lakers are right behind them with 16. The Chicago Bulls are the next closest at six.
    Peter Read Miller/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
    <strong>Most Finals MVP awards: </strong>Michael Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player for all six Finals he played in. The Bulls guard holds his 1998 award here next to head coach Phil Jackson.
    Most Finals MVP awards: Michael Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player for all six Finals he played in. The Bulls guard holds his 1998 award here next to head coach Phil Jackson.
    JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images
    <strong>Most 3-pointers made in an NBA Finals game:</strong> Golden State's Stephen Curry hit nine 3-pointers in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals. He had 33 points as the Warriors took a 2-0 series lead over Cleveland.
    Most 3-pointers made in an NBA Finals game: Golden State's Stephen Curry hit nine 3-pointers in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals. He had 33 points as the Warriors took a 2-0 series lead over Cleveland.
    Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
    <strong>Most assists in an NBA Finals game:</strong> The Lakers' Magic Johnson had 21 assists in Game 3 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Boston won the Finals that year, but Johnson and the Lakers got their revenge one year later.
    Most assists in an NBA Finals game: The Lakers' Magic Johnson had 21 assists in Game 3 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Boston won the Finals that year, but Johnson and the Lakers got their revenge one year later.
    Dick Raphael/NBAE/Getty Images
    <strong>Lowest-seeded team to win it all:</strong> The 1995 Houston Rockets -- led by future Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon -- were the Western Conference's sixth seed when they went on to win the title. The Rockets also won the championship in 1994.
    Lowest-seeded team to win it all: The 1995 Houston Rockets -- led by future Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon -- were the Western Conference's sixth seed when they went on to win the title. The Rockets also won the championship in 1994.
    Rick Bowmer/AP
    <strong>Most blocks in an NBA Finals game: </strong> Dwight Howard blocks a shot by the Lakers' Pau Gasol during the 2009 NBA Finals. It was one of nine blocks the Orlando center had in Game 4.
    Most blocks in an NBA Finals game: Dwight Howard blocks a shot by the Lakers' Pau Gasol during the 2009 NBA Finals. It was one of nine blocks the Orlando center had in Game 4.
    John Bazemore/AP
    <strong>Most steals in an NBA Finals game: </strong>They called him "Big Shot Bob" for his clutch shooting, but Robert Horry was a fierce defender as well. Horry had a record seven steals in Game 2 of the 1995 NBA Finals. Horry won seven titles during his career: two with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the San Antonio Spurs. Only one other player -- John Salley -- has won NBA titles with three different teams.
    Most steals in an NBA Finals game: They called him "Big Shot Bob" for his clutch shooting, but Robert Horry was a fierce defender as well. Horry had a record seven steals in Game 2 of the 1995 NBA Finals. Horry won seven titles during his career: two with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the San Antonio Spurs. Only one other player -- John Salley -- has won NBA titles with three different teams.
    David Phillip/AP
    NBA Finals: The greatest records

    “We spoke to the team, and the Heat will work with its players to make sure no pregame routines interfere with either anthem going forward,” NBA spokesperson Tim Frank said.

    The Raptors lead the series 2-1. Game 4 is Monday at 8 p.m. ET in Miami.