Nba fans witnessed a heartwarming moment on wednesday when a national anthem singer reunited with longtime coach maurice cheeks, who memorably showed his support as she struggled to perform over two decades ago. 13 of 22 when this video starts, you can just tell she's going to choke. Singer natalie gilbert (now natalie zito) stumbled over the lyrics while performing the
National Anthem Maurice Cheeks Looking back to one of our favorite
Soon the announced crowd of 19,980 joined in and sang with them.
It was simply another assist for the
Enter maurice cheeks to save the day. In 2003, gilbert sung the national anthem before a trail blazers playoff game, and early into the song, she forgot the lyrics. On march 12, 2025, gilbert returned to portland On april 25, 2003, trail blazers coach maurice cheeks helped a struggling natalie gilbert finish singing the national anthem.
— nba (@nba) march 13, 2025. Cheeks sang along and motioned the portland crowd to do the same, as the young girl pushed through the overwhelming jitters. Maurice cheeks helped natalie gilbert finish the national anthem when she performed it at a portland trail blazers game in 2002. She returned to sing it again more than 20 years later.
Maurice cheeks saves anthem moment is a phrase that has become synonymous with sportsmanship, leadership, and the essence of team unity.
This iconic event in sports history serves as a powerful reminder of the values that transcend beyond the game itself. Maurice cheeks isn’t just any name in the world of sports; And when we say legend, we’re talking about someone who not only dominated on the basketball court but also lit up the anthem stage like a rockstar. Yeah, you heard that right.
Maurice cheeks saves anthem moment has become one of the most iconic stories in sports Maurice cheeks isn’t just any name in the world of sports; And when we say legend, we’re talking about someone who not only dominated on the basketball court but also lit up the anthem stage like a rockstar. Yeah, you heard that right.
Maurice cheeks saves anthem moment has become one of the most iconic stories in sports
Fatigue and anxiety from being sick overwhelmed her as she began to struggle with the lyrics to the song. The setting was the rose garden, home of the portland trail blazers, who face the thunder tonight inside the ford center. Cheeks was head coach of the blazers, moments away from the biggest game of his coaching career: When gilbert struggled to find the correct words for the song and became flustered, trail blazers’ coach maurice cheeks came to her side.
Cheeks initially suggested the lyrics to gilbert and then joined in on the singing. Soon, the rose garden arena crowd sang with them. Maurice cheeks gives natalie gilbert the assist singing the national anthem ️ Nba fans witnessed a heartwarming moment on wednesday when a national anthem singer reunited with longtime coach maurice cheeks, who memorably showed his support as she struggled to perform over two decades ago.
Singer natalie gilbert (now natalie zito) stumbled over the lyrics while performing the
Nba fans witnessed a heartwarming moment on wednesday when a national anthem singer reunited with longtime coach maurice cheeks, who memorably showed his support as she struggled to perform over Maurice cheeks is a hall of fame point guard, nba champion and former head coach, but some people actually best know him for a moment that has nothing to do with basketball. But i think what cheeks did was fantastic. I've seen clips where anthem singers have gone completely haywire and all that happens is snickering and laughing among the professionals on the sideline.
Maurice cheeks with the assist!
