New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson opened the latest Saturday Night Live series as host, months after leading the franchise to an NBA championship and bringing the title back to New York.
Brunson is now only the fifth basketball player to host the iconic comedy program, following NBA legends Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and LeBron James.
He kicked off the episode with a five-minute monologue, immediately turning the Knicks’ dramatic NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs into comedy. The series had been defined by a string of thrilling fourth-quarter comebacks.
“I’m going to approach hosting the same way I approach a Knicks Finals game,” Brunson joked.
“So the first three quarters of the show are going to be God awful. The last sketch is gonna be amazing.”
Brunson also referenced the other major spectacle held at the Knicks’ Madison Square Garden home since his last appearance there: the star-studded wedding of pop superstar Taylor Swift and NFL icon Travis Kelce.
Jalen Brunson launched his SNL hosting debut with the show’s opening monologue
Kenan Thompson impersonated Stephen A. Smith as Brunson took aim at the ESPN personality
Brunson wasted little time joking about another headline-making event at Madison Square Garden
“The new season is just a couple of weeks away, and I’ve gotta say it’s going to be pretty cool to be back at Madison Square Garden,” Brunson said.
“Looking around like, ‘Wow, just a few weeks ago this was the exact spot where Taylor and Travis got married.’”
He then shifted his attention to Stephen A. Smith, with cast member Kenan Thompson appearing on stage to deliver an impression of the ESPN star.
“I would say the most satisfying part of winning the title is thinking about all the people who doubted me along the way,” Brunson said.
“And tonight I finally get some closure. I invited one of my biggest doubters out here to apologize to my face. Stephen A. Smith.”
After Thompson completed his Smith impression, Brunson asked, “Sorry Stephen, how long’s this gonna go?” The response: “About another seven minutes…”
“Yeah, forget it,” Brunson replied, ushering him away from the stage before turning to “audience questions” from members of the Knicks’ starting five.
Viewers were split over Brunson’s performance. Many felt his teammates Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby—who joined him on stage to close the monologue—appeared more comfortable in front of the cameras.
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Brunson’s Knicks teammates watched from the audience before joining the monologue
Brunson guided the Knicks to a dramatic NBA championship earlier this year
The Knicks star’s SNL debut divided viewers as he ventured beyond his usual basketball setting
‘That monologue just proved that KAT would have been a better choice than Brunson,’ one viewer wrote, as another said: ‘jalen brunson is lowkey the worst knicks player to host #snl he just ain’t that funny.’
‘tbh the rest of the Knicks starting 5 seem more comfortable on the show than Brunson,’ one commented.
Anunoby earned praise with a post saying: ‘OG having more swag than Jalen Brunson in the opening monologue is the funniest SNL moment in a minute.’
Others criticized Brunson’s monologue and noticed his apparent nerves as he laughed while trying to deliver his jokes on a number of occasions.
A different post said: ‘The Jalen Brunson monologue was… as expected. I think his voice cracked. And who did his makeup? That said? The other NY Knicks were perfect.’
‘The Brunson monologue sucked,’ read one comment, and another said: ‘Jalen Brunson maybe one of the worst SNL hosts I’ve ever seen.’
Even some fans weren’t impressed with one writing: ‘I genuinely would take a bullet for Jalen Brunson. But this is unwatchable and SNL has so outlived its purposefulness.’
Another concluded: ‘Jalen Brunson opening monologue is somehow worse than I thought it’d be’ as a further post said: ‘Jalen brunson gave maybe the worst monologue in snl history ive never seen a man with less charisma.’
But plenty of viewers, especially Knicks fans, loved seeing him on their TV screens in a different capacity.
‘Brunson is great at everything. Even acting,’ said one. Another said: ‘Jalen Brunson came to play tonight’.
Others called his opening ‘perfect’ and said: ‘Ok i cant even lie, the #SNL opening with Brunson and the rest of the Knicks was pretty f***ing funny lol.’
‘taylor and travis mention from Brunson and a great monologue hell yeahhhh,’ read another post.
Another viewer concluded: ‘It’s always endearing to see guys like Brunson that are so cool under pressure in their profession get nervous on SNL. KAT and Hart are naturals though.’