Jalen Brunson to Host SNL Season Premiere After Knicks Title
New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson will host the Saturday Night Live season premiere, becoming the fifth NBA player to do so.
Jalen Brunson will host the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live." The New York Knicks guard's hosting gig follows his team's first NBA championship in over 50 years.
The city's celebration of the Knicks' June victory over the San Antonio Spurs has included a parade attended by over two million people. Brunson, the reigning Finals MVP, is set to be joined by musical guest Katseye, a global girl group.
NBA Hosts on SNL
Brunson becomes the fifth NBA player to host the long-running sketch show. The report lists the previous basketball hosts.
The article notes Charles Barkley is one appearance short of the show's legendary "Five-Timers' Club" status. It also mentions former Knicks forward Bill Bradley appeared on the show's second episode in 1975.
The Case for Steph Curry
The report suggests Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry should be the next basketball player to host. It argues Curry has shown stronger comedic chops, having hosted the ESPY Awards and starred in the mockumentary series "Mr. Throwback."
Curry has a notable history in New York. He holds a 12-1 record at Madison Square Garden, scored 54 points there in 2013, and broke the all-time three-point record in the arena in 2021. His Davidson team also upset West Virginia at the Garden during his college career.
The article states Curry's 6-foot-3 stature makes him "much easier to fit into a camera shot with normal-sized SNL cast members" compared to taller former hosts like Bill Russell or LeBron James. It also notes he has "a lot of Li Ning products to promote."
A Potential Tiebreaker
A speculative motivation for Curry to host is presented. The report frames it as a potential tiebreaker in a generational rivalry. "If they've both got four rings, the obvious tiebreaker is SNL hosting performance to determine who the greatest of his generation truly is," the source suggests.
It contrasts this with LeBron James's early hosting turn, noting he "didn't set a high bar with his acting" at age 22. The article concludes by imagining Curry delivering a "tour de force performance" on a hypothetical sketch called "Snack Homiez."
