Jalen Brunson is continuing his reign as the “King of New York.”
According to ESPN, Brunson has been tapped to host the season premiere of Saturday Night Live alongside musical guest KATSEYE. Brunson will make his hosting debut Sept. 26.
Fresh off leading the New York Knicks to a historic 2026 NBA Championship, Brunson keeps on winning.
As the first active NBA player to host the sketch comedy series since LeBron James in 2007, Brunson cements his status as the undisputed “King of New York,” bringing his signature cool-under-pressure demeanor to late-night television.
JALEN BRUNSON’S AMAZING CAREER
Brunson capped off an indelible 2025–26 campaign by anchoring the New York Knicks to a 53–29 regular-season record. He led the franchise to its first NBA title since 1973, putting on a Brunson put on a masterclass in the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds across the series—punctuated by a legendary 45-point performance in a 94–90 Game 5 clincher. Unanimously, he was awarded the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP; his relentless leadership and clutch execution firmly cemented his status as the cornerstone of New York basketball.
Along with Brunson, subsequent episodes will see Dakota Johnson returning for her third hosting stint on October 3 with musical guest Turnstile. Comedian Shane Gillis is hosting on October 10 with Rosalía. Breakout star Inde Navarrette is making her hosting debut for the Halloween episode on October 31 alongside Gracie Abrams.
Behind the scenes, there are plenty of changes taking place at the iconic show. Longtime cast member Chloe Fineman has departed after seven seasons. Behind the scenes, Please Don’t Destroy collaborator Martin Herlihy has also stepped down as a writer after five seasons. Despite the departures, Studio 8H maintains a strong core anchored by veterans Kenan Thompson, Michael Che, Colin Jost, and Sarah Sherman, while continuing to integrate its newer class of featured players.
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