Reigning NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson hosted the 52nd season premiere of 'Saturday Night Live' on September 26, 2026, featuring appearances by four New York Knicks teammates.
Jalen Brunson hosted the 52nd season premiere of NBC’s "Saturday Night Live" on Saturday night, September 26, 2026, according to the Associated Press. The reigning NBA Finals MVP was joined in the audience and on stage by New York Knicks teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart. Brunson is the first active NBA player to host the program since LeBron James in 2007 and the first professional athlete to do so since Travis Kelce in 2023.
During the monologue, OG Anunoby referenced the Knicks' five-game NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs in June. Anunoby specifically recalled a last-second tip-in he converted off a Brunson miss to secure a Game 4 win. Josh Hart questioned Brunson regarding the $113 million the guard left on the table during his recent contract negotiations with New York. Brunson also noted he is the fourth NBA player to host a season premiere, joining Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and James.
The monologue featured Kenan Thompson portraying ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. Brunson joked about Madison Square Garden being the location where Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce wed over the summer. While Karl-Anthony Towns asked if it was possible to foul out of the show, Mikal Bridges joked about the length of his own arms. Brunson concluded the segment by bringing all four teammates to the stage after discussing the team's recent NBA Cup victory.
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