Knicks' Jalen Brunson to host 'Saturday Night Live' season premiere

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Sep 9, 2026

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NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson is about to make more Knicks history.

Fresh off of leading the franchise to its first championship in 53 years, Brunson is set to become the first Knick to host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

Brunson will run point on the Season 52 premiere on Sept. 26, the network announced. He will be joined by the girl group Katseye, who is that episode’s musical guest.

The gig entrenches Brunson, 30, in exclusive company. He’ll become the fifth NBA player to host the sketch comedy series, following Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and LeBron James.

He’s also the latest championship-winning New York athlete to receive an “SNL” hosting invitation, joining the likes of Derek Jeter and Eli Manning.

Brunson’s episode comes less than four months after he won NBA Finals MVP. The All-Star point guard averaged 32.6 points per game in the Finals — including 45 points in the decisive Game 5 — as the Knicks repeatedly defeated the San Antonio Spurs in dramatic, comeback fashion.

The championship was the third in Knicks history and their first since 1973.

Brunson regularly demonstrates his humor on his podcast, the “Roommates Show,” which he co-hosts with Knicks teammate Josh Hart.

Now, he’ll do it in front of a national audience — on a show Knicks superfans Ben Stiller and Tracy Morgan used to work on and that Timothee Chalamet has hosted three times.

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