The Portland Trail Blazers welcomed again a memorable nationwide anthem singer forward of their sport in opposition to the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
Natalie Gilbert returned to the Blazers’ dwelling area practically 22 years after her first performance on April 25, 2003, when the Blazers hosted the Dallas Mavericks in Sport 3 of the primary spherical of the Western Convention playoffs. Then 13 years outdated, Gilbert discovered her phrases and combined up “twilight’s final gleaming” with “stars final gleaming.”
Up stepped Portland’s then-head coach Maurice Cheeks, who stood side-by-side with Gilbert to encourage her, saying, “C’mon,” earlier than singing “stars final gleaming” with Gilbert. The previous Philadelphia 76ers guard continued to sing alongside her, and the gang joined in as properly.
Cheeks and {the teenager} belted “dwelling of the courageous” collectively, and Cheeks gave her a hug to shut out the heartwarming efficiency. They later appeared on “The Tonight Present” and CNN.
This time, Gilbert sang the anthem with out concern, resulting in rousing applause from the Moda Middle crowd. The published confirmed a grinning and clapping Cheeks, who’s at the moment on the Knicks’ teaching employees.
A Rip Metropolis redemption like no different
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— Portland Path Blazers (@trailblazers) March 13, 2025
the way it began vs. the way it’s going
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— Portland Path Blazers (@trailblazers) March 13, 2025
Wednesday’s efficiency allowed for a pregame reunion between Gilbert and Cheeks.
“After I felt like I used to be very helpless and hopeless, coach walked proper over, no hesitation, helped me end the tune,” Gilbert mentioned Wednesday on the Blazers broadcast.
She shared that the second has given her “a lot braveness” to persevere via challenges in her life. Gilbert described seeing Cheeks once more as “surreal.”
“This second modified my life. And I would not have had it some other method. I might not return in time and alter it in any respect,” Gilbert mentioned. “Seeing him and seeing that he is nonetheless the standup man right this moment that he was again then, it is superb.”
