Knicks star Jalen Brunson hosted the Season 52 premiere of “Saturday Night Live” on September 26, 2026, bringing four championship teammates into his monologue. KATSEYE made its SNL debut as musical guest. Brunson is the first active NBA player to host the show since LeBron James in 2007.
Key Takeaways
- Brunson hosted three months after leading the Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973, a five-game Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs in which he was named Finals MVP.
- Knicks starters Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart joined Brunson’s monologue as members of the studio audience.
- Brunson is the first professional athlete to host SNL since Travis Kelce in 2023.
- An SNL writer revealed that the “Office MVP” sketch had two scripted endings, and Brunson made the shot live on air after missing it at dress rehearsal.
- Dakota Johnson hosts October 3 with Turnstile, Shane Gillis hosts October 10 with Rosalía, and Inde Navarrette hosts the October 31 Halloween episode with Gracie Abrams.
- New cast members Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter joined for Season 52, while Chloe Fineman and Martin Herlihy did not return.
Jalen Brunson Treats Hosting Like a Knicks Finals Game
Jalen Brunson opened his monologue by comparing hosting to his playoff run. “The first three quarters of the show are going to be god-awful,” he told the audience. “The last sketch is going to be amazing.” The joke played on the late-game comebacks that defined the Knicks’ championship season and set the tone for a basketball-heavy night.
Kenan Thompson then appeared as ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, a well-known Knicks fan who had doubted Brunson. The bit gave Brunson a chance to collect an on-air apology from one of his loudest critics.
The monologue then turned into a team appearance. When Brunson opened the floor to audience questions, the camera found Towns, Bridges, Anunoby and Hart in the seats. Bridges asked whether his arms were “like, really long.” Anunoby brought up a shot Brunson missed late in Game 4 of the Finals. Hart, his teammate at Villanova and his podcast co-host, asked about the $113 million Brunson left on the table when he re-signed with the Knicks. Brunson then brought all four onstage.
Brunson Joins a Short List of NBA Players Who Hosted SNL
Jalen Brunson’s premiere adds to a small club. Bill Russell hosted in 1979, and Michael Jordan hosted in 1991. Charles Barkley has hosted four times, once as an active player in 1993, and LeBron James hosted in 2007 while with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Brunson, Jordan, Barkley and James all hosted season premieres. SNL has often opened seasons with sports stars at the height of their fame, relying on hometown excitement and a built-in national audience to launch a new season.
Brunson had advantages most athletes don’t. He was hosting in the city that had just celebrated its first NBA title in more than five decades, in a studio at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, a few blocks from Madison Square Garden. The studio audience was already on his side before the first sketch.
“Office MVP” Became the Night’s Talking Point
Jalen Brunson’s standout sketch was “Office MVP.” He played Darius, an office worker disguised as the NBA star, who interrupts a meeting to play trash-can basketball and keeps shooting across the office long after everyone else has moved on.
The ending was not scripted as a sure thing. SNL writer Dan Bulla explained on Instagram after the episode that a blower inside the trash can made it nearly impossible to score until the final shot. The team prepared two sets of cue cards, one for a make and one for a miss. Brunson missed at dress rehearsal and made the shot on air.
The episode also included “North High,” a “High School Musical” parody, and “Dream Academy,” a sketch featuring KATSEYE.
KATSEYE Makes Its Debut as Season 52’s First Musical Guest
KATSEYE’s appearance marked the Grammy-nominated global girl group’s first time on the SNL stage. The group recently released its third EP, “WILD,” and is on its sold-out “WILDWORLD” tour. The booking reflects the show’s recent pattern of pairing an established host with a fast-rising musical act.
Season 52 Lineup Continues Through Halloween
SNL’s first stretch of Season 52 is already scheduled. Dakota Johnson returns to host a third time on October 3, a day after her film “Verity” opens in theaters, with Turnstile making its SNL debut. Shane Gillis hosts for the third time on October 10 with Rosalía, who returns as musical guest for a second time.
After a two-week break, the Halloween episode on October 31 features Inde Navarrette, the breakout star of the horror film “Obsession,” in her hosting debut, with Gracie Abrams as musical guest.
The cast has also changed. Chloe Fineman and Martin Herlihy have left, following Bowen Yang’s departure last season. New York comedian Saidah Belo-Osagie and Grace Reiter join the cast this season.
“Saturday Night Live” airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC and streams live on Peacock.
FAQs
Who hosted the SNL Season 52 premiere?
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson hosted the Season 52 premiere on September 26, 2026. It was his first time hosting, and KATSEYE was the musical guest.
Which Knicks players appeared on SNL with Jalen Brunson?
Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby and Josh Hart appeared in Brunson’s monologue. They played members of the studio audience asking him questions before joining him onstage.
Who was the last NBA player to host SNL before Jalen Brunson?
LeBron James was the last active NBA player to host, in 2007, while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Before Brunson, the last professional athlete to host was Travis Kelce in 2023.
Who is hosting SNL in October 2026?
Dakota Johnson hosts October 3 with Turnstile, and Shane Gillis hosts October 10 with Rosalía. Inde Navarrette hosts the October 31 Halloween episode with Gracie Abrams.
What time does SNL air and where can it be streamed?
“Saturday Night Live” airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC. It also streams live on Peacock.
