A bit of lady who wanted Maurice Cheeks‘ assist to sing the nationwide anthem at a Portland Path Blazers recreation in 2003 had a second shot on the track on Wednesday … and the now-Knicks assistant was within the constructing for the redemption!!

Natalie Zito was 13 years outdated when she was picked to sing the “Star-Spangled Banner” forward of the Blazers’ Sport 3 playoff matchup in 2003 … however nerves received one of the best of her, and Cheeks stepped in to assist her end the rendition.

The heartwarming second grew to become probably the most memorable within the NBA’s anthem historical past … and greater than twenty years later, Zito took one other crack at it.

Zito sang her coronary heart out earlier than the Blazers took on the New York Knicks on the Moda Middle … and he or she did it effortlessly.

What makes this even cooler is Cheeks — now an assistant coach for NY — was there to witness it. The 2 additionally had an opportunity to catch up … and took a photograph collectively.

“This second modified my life and I would not have had it every other approach,” Zito mentioned of the ’03 efficiency. “I’d not return in time and alter it in any respect.”