A sketch featuring New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson on "Saturday Night Live" initially had a different outcome, according to a show writer. The scene, titled "Office MVP," depicted Brunson, playing a character named Darius Barcelona, attempting to shoot crumpled paper balls into a trash can.
Writer Dan Bulla revealed on Instagram that during the sketch, a blower was placed inside the trash can, making it nearly impossible for Brunson to score. Bulla stated that the contraption was intentionally used, hindering Brunson's attempts until his final shot.
Brunson, who recently played in the NBA Finals, struggled with his shots during the sketch, missing multiple attempts. The narrative of the sketch involved Brunson revealing his identity to his co-workers, after which he made a final shot "for all the marbles."
Bulla explained that two versions of the sketch's ending were prepared: one for if Brunson made the shot and one for if he missed. Despite missing at dress rehearsal, Brunson successfully made the shot during the live broadcast. Bulla attributed this success to Brunson being "built for the moment."