The synergy creates New York autumn magic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jalen Brunson, who led the New York Knicks to the 2026 NBA championship<\/a> \u2013 the team\u2019s first title since 1973 \u2013 and was named Finals MVP, will host the season opener of \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d on NBC Saturday, just before the Knicks open training camp and begin their quest for another title.\u00a0<\/p>\n first read-thru of the season with @jalenbrunson1<\/a>!!! pic.twitter.com\/yAohsZsbn7<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) September 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n What a great night it\u2019s going to be for New Yorkers, the Knicks and their fans, Brunson and \u201cSNL\u201d, which is shot in NBC\u2019s Studio 8H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in midtown Manhattan.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brunson will join Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and LeBron James as the only people with deep NBA connections to host \u201cSNL\u201d. Jordan, Barkley (in his first of four times hosting) and James were active players when they hosted, and Russell was between NBA coaching jobs when he hosted.\u00a0<\/p>\n THIS SATURDAY!!! \u2014 Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) September 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Ahead of Brunson hosting the opener of the show\u2019s 52nd season, here\u2019s a look at the NBA stars who have hosted \u201cSNL\u201d:\u00a0<\/p>\n Bill Russell, November 3, 1979\u00a0<\/p>\n After a cold open in this season 5 episode, Russell delivered his monologue, a riff on the teamwork required to win in the NBA and the teamwork required to make a great episode of SNL \u2013 with a big man in the middle of it all necessary for both to excel.\u00a0<\/p>\n He appeared in several skits, including one with Bill Murray who played a sports radio talk-show host who knew nothing about basketball \u2013 while promoting Russell\u2019s actual book Second Wind.\u00a0<\/p>\n Russell was a serious man, especially about basketball and social justice, but he loved to laugh and hearing that Russell cackle was always a delight.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Musical guest: Chicago\u00a0<\/p>\n So happy for @jalenbrunson1<\/a>! My Dad, Bill Russell, was the first NBA player to host! https:\/\/t.co\/acrW6e26ZL<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/BzPLMUCyIQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Karen Kenyatta Russell\ud83c\udf40 (@Karen_Russell) September 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Michael Jordan, September 28, 1991<\/p>\n Jordan was coming off his first NBA championship, and his stardom was skyrocketing when he was the guest host for the season 17 opener. Wearing sunglasses for his monologue, Jordan brought his trademark swagger to the set and allowed \u201cSNL\u201d writers to push comedy boundaries.\u00a0<\/p>\n The highlight of Jordan\u2019s skits in this episode was his bit on Stuart Smalley\u2019s Daily Affirmations<\/a>. Played by Al Franken, Smalley tries to boost his insufficient self-esteem by looking into a mirror and acknowledging \u201cI\u2019m good enough, I\u2019m smart enough and doggone it, people like me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n With Jordan sitting next to him, Franken\u2019s character says, \u201cI can imagine a night before a game, you must lie awake thinking, \u2018I\u2019m not good enough. Everybody\u2019s better than me. I\u2019m not going to score any points. I have no business playing this game.\u2019 \u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWell, not really,\u201d Jordan replied.\u00a0<\/p>\n By the end of the skit, Jordan looks in the mirror, barely containing his laughter and repeats what Smalley says: \u201cI don\u2019t have to be a great basketball player. I don\u2019t have to dribble the ball fast or throw the ball into the basket. Because all I have to do is be the best Michael I can be. Because I\u2019m good enough, I\u2019m smart enough and doggone it, people like me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s a classic.\u00a0<\/p>\n Musical guest: Public Enemy\u00a0<\/p>\n Charles Barkley, Sept. 25, 1993; Jan. 9, 2010; Jan. 7, 2012; March 3, 2018<\/p>\n Barkley is a natural in front of the camera, and he has the comedic chops to warrant his \u201cSNL\u201d appearances. His first guest host duties came in the season 19 opener \u2013 just a few months after Jordan\u2019s Bulls defeated Barkley\u2019s Phoenix Suns in the NBA Finals. Barkley was also just a few months removed from earning the regular-season MVP award.\u00a0<\/p>\n For that episode, Barkley cut a promo with Nirvana, saying, \u201cHi, I\u2019m Charles Barkley, host of the season premiere of \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d with Nirvana. Look mom, your favorite, Nirvana\u201d with Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic standing in the shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Twenty-five years later, he hosted for the fourth time. There\u2019s a reason the show has asked him back \u2013 he\u2019s a good sport about it, able to poke fun while allowing the \u201cSNL\u201d writers to poke fun at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n Musical guests: Nirvana, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Migos\u00a0<\/p>\n LeBron James, September 29, 2007\u00a0<\/p>\n Getting ready to start his fifth NBA season, James was just 22 years old \u2013 he hadn\u2019t yet won his first MVP or first title \u2013 when he hosted the opener of \u201cSNL\u201d\u2019s 33rd season.\u00a0<\/p>\n He entered the set for his monologue, dancing to center stage and cracked a joke, \u201cFor those of you who don\u2019t watch basketball, this past season we went to the NBA Finals, and we swept the San Antonio Spurs in four games, and for those of you who do watch basketball, be cool and shut up. There\u2019s no reason to ruin it for everybody else.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He was also a natural, appearing in several humorous skits including a good one with Bill Hader<\/a> and Jason Sudeikis. James has carved out a little slice of the entertainment world with several shows and movies he has produced and appeared in, including Space Jam: A New Legacy and a role alongside Hader and Amy Schumer in Trainwreck.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTo be a part of the \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d legacy is something that\u2019s a dream come true,\u201d James said at the 2025 NBA All-Star Game<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s been on, obviously, my entire life, and seeing so many great actors grace those skits every single Saturday and so many entertainers that come there and do their bits, as well, it was fun. It was super fun, and hopefully I get the opportunity to do it again. I would love to do it again. I was so young.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Musical guest: Kanye West\u00a0<\/p>\n ***<\/p>\n Jeff Zillgitt has covered the NBA since 2008. You can email him at\u00a0jzillgitt@nba.com<\/a>, find\u00a0his archive here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0follow him on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Jalen Brunson hosts the Season 52 Premiere of with musical guest KATSEYE! pic.twitter.com\/9DSqWSBGUX<\/a><\/p>\n