Jalen Brunson will make another TV appearance in New York before the Knicks begin their title defense. NBC announced Wednesday that Brunson will host the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" on Sept. 26. Katseye will serve as the musical guest to kick off the late-night comedy show's 52nd season.
Brunson will join Bill Russell, Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, and LeBron James as the fifth NBA star to host SNL. Fellow New York sports legends Derek Jeter and Eli Manning have also hosted, and the Knicks guard will become the first athlete to headline since Travis Kelce in 2023. Brunson takes center stage after leading the Knicks to their first championship since 1973.
He averaged 28.4 points per game during a legacy-defining postseason, scoring 45 in a Game 5 win over the San Antonio Spurs to conclude the NBA Finals. One of the best free-agent signings in NBA history, Brunson has averaged 26.3 points and 6.8 assists in four seasons with the Knicks. He led an all-time great playoff run, leading the Knicks to 15 wins in 16 games after falling behind 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks in the first round.
The 30-year-old has already stepped into the spotlight this offseason, appearing at WWE's Saturday Night Main Event at Madison Square Garden in July. Brunson walked out to the ring alongside Roman Reigns, chasing off Seth Rollins and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton to close the show. He'll now test his comedy chops later this month.
One can wonder if any Knicks teammates will join him at 30 Rockefeller Plaza to celebrate their championship before they start the 2026-27 regular season against the Philadelphia 76ers in an NBC-televised game on Oct. 20.
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