Jalen Brunson gets real about ‘SNL’ debut

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Jalen Brunson gets real about ‘SNL’ debut

Originally posted on Entertainment on ClutchPoints
By Autumn Hawkins, ClutchPoints | Last updated Sep 21, 2026 8:50 PM ET

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Jalen Brunson is opening up about his upcoming Saturday Night Live performance.

The New York Knicks star made an appearance on the Tamron Hall Show, where he was joined by his parents: Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson and Sandra Brunson. When Hall asked if he was ready for his SNL debut, he shared that he might not be fully prepared.

“Probably not,” he responded. “I’m being honest with you: I have no idea what I’m walking into, but I know it’s going to turn out great.”

Hall then attempted to get a sneak peek into his opening monologue by asking if he was planning to sing.

“Um,” Jalen hesitated before saying, “No.”

It’s common for even non-musical guests to sing on the show for the opening monologue.

Brunson will be joined by musical guest KATSEYE. He is the first active NBA player to host the show since LeBron James in 2007. The NBA Finals MVP joins a short list of NBA players host the iconic sketch comedy including James, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, and Charles Barkley.

Jalen Brunson on Law & Order: SVU

Brunson is going to make another acting gig following his SNL debut. He will be on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in November after he was spotted in Brooklyn filming with the show’s lead and friend of the NFL star, Mariska Hargitay.

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According to Deadline, Brunson will appear in Season 28’s fifth episode, which is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. on November 5 on NBC.

Following the Knicks’ historic championship win, Brunson shared that he wanted to be on the show. He’s been a lifetime fan of the show after his father introduced it to him growing up.

“I remember my dad always watching the show and you just hear the iconic (theme song) ‘don-don’ all the time,” Brunson told Knicks teammate Josh Hart on their podcast The Roommates Show last year. “I always found myself watching the show.”

He added: “Honestly the older I got, the more I watched, the more I see now I’m like, ‘I’ve seen that episode,’ I’ve seen so many different episodes.”
You can watch Brunson’s debut on SNL on Saturday, September 26 at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

This article first appeared on Entertainment on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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