Jalen Brunson Hosts 'Saturday Night Live' Season 52 Premiere
The New York Knicks star welcomed teammates during his hosting debut.
Jalen Brunson kicked off the 52nd season of "Saturday Night Live" as its host, joined by several of his New York Knicks teammates. Brunson, who led the Knicks to an NBA championship in June, approached his hosting duties with a familiar competitive spirit.
"Tonight, I’m going to approach hosting the same way as I approached the Knicks’ Finals games," Brunson told the live audience. "The first three-quarters of the show are going to be god-awful; the last sketch is going to be amazing."
During the show, Brunson opened the floor for audience questions, prompting teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart to participate. Towns jokingly asked if he could "foul out of 'SNL,'" referencing his near-fouling out during the NBA Finals. Anunoby recalled a moment from Game 4 of the Finals, with Brunson responding to Anunoby's reminder of his own assist on a crucial shot.
Musical guests Katseye also performed during the Season 52 premiere. Brunson concluded the show by stating his intention to return to his basketball career soon.
Brunson's hosting gig marked a historic moment, as he became the first player from the Knicks franchise to host the sketch comedy show. In June, Brunson and his teammates defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. Since the championship win, Brunson has also made an appearance at the 2026 Emmy Awards and filmed a segment for "Law & Order: SVU."