Jalen Brunson becomes only the fifth player in NBA history to host Saturday Night Live

The last few months have been dominated by the New York Knicks, and rightfully so. They earned plenty of victory laps by proving everyone wrong with their first NBA championship in 52 years.

During this 2026 championship run, Jalen Brunson has been the star of the show as their point guard superstar. Now, it seems Brunson won't just be the Knicks' star, but he will also be a TV star, as he will be hosting the first episode of Saturday Night Live's 52nd season on September 26.

This is not the first time an NBA player has hosted SNL because it has been done by four superstars before. Those were Bill Russell, Charles Barkley, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan. Considering those are generational megastars, Brunson is in a very exclusive group.

Since he is the most recent Finals MVP for one of the biggest sports teams in New York, Brunson has earned a lot of positive credit with the city. Now, he is hosting one of the city's most iconic television shows in the season premiere, no less.

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Brunson has shown some comedic chops through the years, especially when he interacts with longtime friend and teammate Josh Hart. Now, he will be on SNL, which is arguably the biggest stage in the comedy world.

Outside of the other four NBA players, there have been over 35 other professional athletes who have hosted SNL. Brunson should have a lot of time to prepare over the next few weeks, as he will be the star of the show alongside musical guest, KATSEYE.

It will be an interesting show to follow for fans of both SNL and the NBA. This is an interesting intersection for some people, especially for people who are fans of both.