New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson hosted the 52nd season premiere of Saturday Night Live on September 26, 2026, bringing four of his NBA championship teammates into the audience for his opening monologue. Brunson, who led the Knicks to their first title in 53 years last June, became the first active NBA player to host the NBC sketch comedy show since LeBron James in 2007, according to The Associated Press.
Monologue Highlights and Teammate Interactions
During the monologue, Brunson addressed his recent championship run, joked that he would not sing, and claimed that ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith—portrayed by cast member Kenan Thompson—owed him an apology for questioning his abilities. Brunson also referenced Madison Square Garden, calling it “the exact spot where Taylor and Travis got married,” according to The Associated Press, referencing the wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at the arena.
Four of Brunson’s teammates—Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, O.G. Anunoby, and Josh Hart—participated directly by asking him questions from the crowd:
Karl-Anthony Towns asked if a player could foul out of the show. When told no, Towns responded, “so I can be here, like, the whole show? Nice.”
Mikal Bridges asked whether Brunson’s arms were long, while lamenting that he would never fly.
O.G. Anunoby asked Brunson if he remembered missing a crucial shot late in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against San Antonio—referring to a last-second tip-in off a Brunson miss that secured a game-clinching play in the series.
Josh Hart asked about Brunson leaving $113 million on the table when signing his contract with the New York Knicks.
Historical Context for NBA Hosts on Saturday Night Live
Brunson’s hosting gig places him in a rare group of professional basketball players to lead the NBC program. Prior to Brunson, the active NBA players to host Saturday Night Live were LeBron James for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007, Michael Jordan in 1991, and Charles Barkley in 1993 during his playing career, as reported by The Associated Press. Bill Russell also hosted in 1979, a decade after his retirement, while Charles Barkley returned to host on three additional occasions after his playing days.
Brunson, Jordan, Barkley, and James all share the distinction of hosting season-premiere episodes for the show. Looking ahead to the remainder of the broadcast, Brunson drew a parallel to his crunch-time performances against the San Antonio Spurs in June, telling the audience, as reported by The Associated Press, “I’m going to approach this the same way I approach a Knicks finals game. The first three quarters of the show are going to be god-awful. The last sketch is going to be amazing.”
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