Jalen Brunson hosts Saturday Night Live, skit features hidden trash-can blower
NBA champion Jalen Brunson made his Saturday Night Live hosting debut, starring in a workplace sketch that included a concealed blower in a trash can to make the final shot difficult.
NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson appeared as host of Saturday Night Live, delivering a monologue that featured his Knicks teammates Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart. The show’s closing sketch placed Brunson’s character in an office setting, repeatedly attempting to shoot a basketball into a trash can. According to SNL writer Dan Bulla, a hidden blower in the can prevented the ball from going in until the final attempt, which succeeded during the live broadcast.
"We had two sets of cue cards for the ending – one if he made it, and one if he missed. He missed at dress but hit the shot ON AIR," Bulla wrote on Instagram.
Kenan Thompson appeared in the opening monologue, portraying ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith and apologizing for earlier doubts about Brunson’s abilities. Brunson joins Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and LeBron James as the fifth NBA player to host the program, and he is the first New York Knicks player to do so. The Knicks are scheduled to open the 2026-27 season at Madison Square Garden against the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 20.