The NBA Finals national anthem is played during the last match of the NBA Finals 7. Kristin Chenoweth, an Oklahoma native and Tony Award-winning Singer, was invited this time to sing the national anthem. This “The Star-Spangled Banner” event was shown live on the ABC channel. When the NBA Finals Game 7 national anthem started, the entire stadium went silent, everyone got goosebumps, Crown got emotional, and the players also got into serious mode.
In today's blog post, we are going to discuss with you the NBA Finals national anthem 2025 and its impact.
Why Is the National Anthem Important for the NBA Finals Game 7?
The NBA Finals Game 7 is the season's biggest battle; whichever team wins, they become champion. And before such high-pressure moments, the NBA Finals national anthem is performed. This time, famous singer Kristin Chenoweth was invited to perform it. This finals was very special because after 2016, this is the first time that the NBA finals reached game 7; otherwise, the results were declared by game 6 itself. The entire atmosphere was filled with pride and excitement during the performance of the National Anthem at the NBA Finals Game 7.
What was so special in 2025?
This NBA Finals of 2025 was crucial because
- The series reached Game 7 after almost 9 years, since 2016.
- At their home court, Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, the Thunder prevailed.
- After the finals, SGA, the hero of this victory, received the MVP award.
- And this historic night started with Kristin Chenoweth's national anthem, which made the atmosphere more patriotic.
National Anthem is not just a song but an emotion.
NBA is a national sport, and it has a crowd of millions of fans. Therefore, performing the national anthem in such an atmosphere is not an easy task. This entire program is broadcast live on TV, which is watched by the whole world. Hence, the singer who performs the anthem needs not only technical perfection but also has to perform it with emotional attachment; hence, this time an Oklahoma native singer has been invited so that he can make an emotional connection with the native people.
If we talk about Kristin Chenoweth, she is a world-renowned singer whose voice and performance are famous worldwide. He has appeared in major musicals including Wicked and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. She used this experience to give a powerful and theatrical touch to the NBA Finals national anthem. Her performance awakened emotions in the hearts of every Thunder fan.
Not only was this a performance, but it also marked a historic moment in the NBA Finals that will live on forever.
The National Anthem played by Kristin Chenoweth during NBA Finals Game 7
Although Kristin Chenoweth is short in height, her performance is no less than that of a powerhouse. That's why her performance made the other players super energetic that night. Let me tell you, Kristin Chenoweth is a Thunder fan herself and is also an inductee into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Everyone's attention focused on Kristin as she stepped onto the Paycom Center stage. Everyone was silent, then as she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner," the whole stadium came together and everyone started to fill with emotions.
There was a moment during the song when Kristin finished the word 'free' with a very long clap, which everyone loved, and there was a lot of discussion on social media about it.
In public reactions, some users wrote, "Unreal performance!" while some wrote, "Best rendition ever of the Game 7 national anthem!" Overall, Kristin's performance received high appreciation from fans.
But some users compared this performance to Fergie's 2018 All-Star Game performance and also trolled that the Broadway-style singing was not matching the basketball game.
When Kristin was going to perform the National Anthem in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, a day before that she had posted a funny video on her social media handle, and there she was seen doing her ritual. She mentioned in the video that she was now in Oklahoma City. So this also gave a hint to the people that Kristin was going to have a role on the day of the finals.
This is why, when the live event occurred, the stadium resonated with applause and cheers.
Memorable NBA Finals National Anthem Performances
Every year, the national anthem is performed before the NBA finals; it represents emotion and pride. This year the anthem was performed by Kristin, who is a native singer of OKC. But before this, many singers have also performed it:
- Marvin Gaye (1983 NBA All-Star Game): Although it was not a finals match, the anthem sung by Marvin Gaye was much talked about at that time. With his passionate voice, he elicited strong emotions. His performance is considered to be the best anthem performance in NBA history.
- Whitney Houston (1991 Super Bowl): This performance was so good that even today, if you listen to its repeat telecast, you get goosebumps on your body. She set a standard for the national anthem with her powerful and soulful voice.
- Michelle Brooks Thompson (2024 NBA Finals Game 1): Michelle's previous year's performance was a huge hit with fans. His graceful and controlled singing won everyone's heart.
Now Kristin's name is also included in this legendary anthem list. She personified the anthem with a profound sense of patriotism. Her performance was very special, as this was her third time performing the national anthem.
Kristin tells that it was very tough for her to perform at such important moments, but because of her love for her city's party and the die-hard nature of the Thunders, she ensured that her performance was flawless.
Why was Kristin Chenoweth the choice for the NBA Finals national anthem in 2025?
There were many reasons behind choosing Kristin Chenoweth for the NBA Finals game national anthem, such as
- She has performed on both television and Broadway.
- She is an Emmy and Tony Award winner.
- She was born and raised in Oklahoma City, which means she is an OKC native. She feels a strong bond with the city and its people.
- Her vocal range is quite high, enabling her to properly perform the anthem.
- Her theatrical presence alone provides her the ability to engage the audience and emotionally bond to them.
- And she is a die-hard Thunders fan.
Overall, his emotional connection to the club is so strong that singing the national anthem in Game 7 felt more like a sincere tribute than a performance.
The Impact of the NBA Finals National Anthem
NBA Finals Game 7 The national anthem is not just a match-opening ritual, but it is an emotional way to motivate the team and to awaken patriotism in the team.
When Kristin started the anthem, our stadium was absolutely quiet; it seemed as if everyone was connecting with each other. In the entire crowd of the stadium, almost 98% of people were seen wearing blue-colored T-shirts, that is, in support of the Thunders. It seemed as if the entire crowd was seeing only one dream—the victory of Thunders.
When ESPN omitted the national anthem during Game 3 of the Finals, fans voiced their displeasure in a variety of ways. But this time ESPN also showed the national anthem sung by Christian live on time, and everyone appreciated it.
These moments show how much the anthem affected fans' hearts and how attached they became. On that day, the stadium's atmosphere for the NBA Finals game 7 was unparalleled. And the victory of the Thunder made it even more amazing.
Conclusion: A Historic NBA Finals National Anthem
On June 22, 2025, when Kristin Chenoweth sang the national anthem in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, it motivated both the players and the fans. Her powerful voice, love for her hometown, and bold voice spread a wave of emotions. Some fans liked the performance while others did not, but the anthem made everyone emotional.
The Thunders won Game 7, fulfilling their 49-year-old dream and winning their first NBA Championship title in their hometown, on their home court, which was a matter of great pride. As it is said, music has that power that is not present in anything else in the world; it can add in a moment and can also break in a moment. Something similar was seen in NBA Finals game 7. The NBA Finals national anthem not only made everyone emotional but also filled them with energy, and the result was that the Thunders achieved victory.
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