The heartwarming encounter between Natalie Gilbert and Maurice Cheeks garnered worldwide attention and led to an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Twenty-two years after her memorable national anthem performance at a Portland Trail Blazers game, Natalie Gilbert, now known as Natalie Zito, returned to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” with Maurice Cheeks in attendance. In 2003, a 13-year-old Gilbert struggled during her rendition, prompting Cheeks, the Blazers head coach at the time, to come to her aid by offering support and encouragement. The touching moment went viral, resulting in appearances by Cheeks and Zito on various media outlets. Fast forward to present day, Zito, now 35 years old, delivered a flawless performance before the Knicks’ thrilling overtime win against the Blazers, without needing Cheeks’ assistance. Meeting before the game, Zito expressed gratitude towards Cheeks for his support during a challenging moment in her life, stating that it had a lasting impact on her. Reflecting on the experience, Zito emphasized the positive influence Cheeks had on her and expressed admiration for his unwavering character.
