This time, she nailed it.
The Portland Trail Blazers brought back Natalie Gilbert (now Natalie Zito) to sing the national anthem nearly 22 years after she fumbled the song prior to a playoff game before receiving an assist from then-coach Maurice Cheeks.
“I loved it,” Zito said. “Loved every second of it.”
Cheeks was on hand as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks, the Blazers' opponent. He could be seen smiling during Zito’s performance.
“This was a real honor and a very special thing for me,” Zito said.
The two became forever linked in Rip City lore in April 2003 when Zito, then 13, sang the national anthem. Early in the song, Gilbert forgot the words. While she fumbled to recall the lyrics, Cheeks walked over, placed a hand on her shoulder, and helped her along.
Zito and Cheeks finished the song to a large ovation.
The moment made national news.
Trail Blazers archive image
Head Coach Maurice Cheeks stepped in to help 13 year-old Natalie Gilbert complete the national anthem before game 3 of the 2003 Western Conference quarterfinals. Gilbert had been suffering from the flu and forgot some of the words. BRUCE ELY / THE OREGONIAN/OREGONLIVELC- The Oregonian
Coming back to the Moda Center on Wednesday did conjure up some nerves for Zito. But said knew she would get through the song cleanly this time.
“I was a little bit nervous,” she said. “But once I started singing, it was no problem.”
Zito left the court excited about having that chance to sing again before a Blazers game.
“I feel like I can come and do this anytime,” she said. “I love singing. I still sing. Just doing that makes me want to get back into music. Right now, I’m helping my dad with our family business.”
She is vice president at Environmentally Conscious Recycling in Portland.
Zito said that night, and Cheeks helping her, remains a big moment for her.
“That moment changed my life,” she said. “Obviously, in the moment when you’re 13, and you go through something like that, it’s very life-changing. I was hazed. I was picked on in school. But the way he stood up for me really set a path for me to follow in those footsteps.”
Natalie Gilbert Maurice Cheeks
The Portland Trail Blazers brought back Natalie Gilbert, now Natalie Zito, to sing the national anthem prior to a game against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Former Portland coach Maurice Cheeks was also in attendance as an assistant coach for the Knicks.Portland Trail Blazers
Zito said that ever since then, whenever she sees someone struggling at anything, she steps in to help.
“No hesitation,” she said. “When I see it, I’m there to help anybody at any moment.”
Wednesday was not her first national anthem performance since that night in Portland. In 2004, Zito sang the national anthem prior to a Blazers playing at Philadelphia.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)