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Jalen Brunson brought four of his NBA teammates to “Saturday Night Live.”
Four of his NBA Finals MVP New York Knicks teammates – Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart – were in the audience for his monologue Saturday night, in his capacity as a guest for the premiere of the 52nd season of the NBC program.
Brunson had fun not having to sing, as ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith — a Knicks fan, represented during a monologue with longtime “SNL” star Kenan Thompson — excused him for questioning his abilities, and even questioned how much he’s looking forward to getting back to the Knicks’ home court at Madison Square Garden.
“The exact place where Taylor and Travis got married,” Brunson said, referring to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at the team’s stadium.
But the best support came from Towns, Bridges, Anunoby and Hart, who all asked Brunson questions as part of the monologue.
Towns asked if someone could leave “SNL.” When told it’s not possible, Towns said, “Can I be here, like the whole show? Great.”
Bridges asked Brunson if his arms were long, but he lamented that he would never fly. Anunoby, who received a standing ovation, asked Brunson if he remembered missing a shot late in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against San Antonio – a streak the Knicks won in five games.
The Game 4 shot that Anunoby was referring to was the last second shot – due to Brunson’s loss – that basically ensured the Knicks would win the game.
“That was awesome,” Anunoby said.
Hart – who co-hosts a podcast with Brunson – asked the Villanova and New York team about how he left $113 million on the negotiating table when he signed with the Knicks. Brunson, then, asked why Hart put Brunson in the back when the Knicks won the NBA Cup last season.
Brunson then brought his players to the stage for one final roar from the crowd.
Brunson was the first active NBA player to host the show since LeBron James – then of the Cleveland Cavaliers – in 2007 and the first pro athlete in the role since Kelce, tight end of the Kansas City Chiefs, in 2023.
The other NBA players to host besides Brunson and James: Michael Jordan in 1991, Charles Barkley four times (including one as an active player in 1993) and Bill Russell in 1979. Russell’s time came 10 years after he retired as a player.
Brunson, Jordan, Barkley and James all hosted season-long episodes of “SNL.” And Brunson promised late heroics, just as he delivered in crunch time in the Knicks’ title-series game against the Spurs in June.
“I’m going to approach this the same way I approach the Knicks final game,” Brunson said. “The first three quarters of the show is going to be awesome. The final sketch is going to be amazing.”
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