It’s nothing but net for “Saturday Night Live” this month as the show announced that New York’s own Jalen Brunson will be the first host for the show’s 52nd season.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is hot off the summer of his career after he led the team to the NBA championship in June. It’s the team’s first championship in more than 50 years.
The sketch comedy institution announced Brunson would host Sept. 26 with the girl group Katseye scheduled as the musical guest.
The show announced Brunson as the first of four weeks of hosts, followed by “Fifty Shades of Grey” star Dakota Johnson, “Obsession” breakout actor Inde Navarrette and comedian Shane Gillis.
Brunson’s leadership of the Knicks skyrocketed him into the national spotlight this year as the team made historic comebacks in the NBA playoffs.
Brunson, 30, rallied in the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals to overcome a 22-point deficit. He scored 38 points in that game, which the Knicks eventually won in overtime against the Cavaliers, setting them up for a 4-0 sweep of the conference finals.
It was considered one of the greatest postseason recoveries in the NBA until the Knicks did it again just weeks later.
They were trailing the San Antonio Spurs by as much has 29 points during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. But they pushed to make up the gap in what is now regarded as the biggest championship game comeback in NBA history.
Many credit Brunson’s mentality and leadership for the Knicks’ first NBA championship since 1973. He told NBC News after the stunning Game 4 rally that the team approaches each game as if it is still at 0-0 in the series.
“Whatever’s being said, positive or negative, you can’t really think about or worry about too much,” Brunson said.
Though he’s known for his stoicism on the court, Brunson has a lighthearted side that makes him a good fit for a comedy show.
He often ribs teammate and best friend Josh Hart on the podcast they host together. Brunson can also be seen trying his best not to crack a smile in their postgame news conferences, where Hart is often seen with food he had delivered to the venue.
It’s unclear whether Hart or any of Brunson’s other teammates — or any of the famous faces who sat courtside for the Knicks’ championship run, including Timothée Chalamet, Mariska Hargitay or Taylor Swift — might appear on the “SNL” premiere. It would be a slam dunk for a show that’s known to score celebrity cameos.
