Summer of Jalen Brunson: How the Knicks star spent his epic offseason after NBA championship
· Yahoo Sports
NEW YORK — The spring of Jalen Brunson turned into the summer of Jalen Brunson.
After the point guard led the Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years, Brunson reveled throughout a well-earned summer of celebration.
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Even recovering from offseason wrist surgery didn’t cramp the NBA Finals MVP’s style as he appeared at New York City’s hottest events and landed gigs that spoke to his fast-rising star power.
“Honored and grateful for all of the opportunities that have come about,” Brunson said ahead of training camp. “It was the longest, shortest summer ever. But it was well worth it.”
As the Knicks’ 2026-27 season nears, here’s a look back at Brunson’s epic summer:
In the stands
Camera cutaways to Brunson, 30, at major sporting events became commonplace after his own on-court excellence.
Brunson attended multiple World Cup matches at MetLife Stadium, including the final between Spain and Argentina on July 19.
At the U.S. Open men’s semifinal on Sept. 11, Brunson earned a shoutout from Ben Shelton, who, after his victory that night, singled out the Knicks star among all of the celebrities at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“You’re playing in front of all your favorite athletes and movie stars, so to be able to keep your head down and focus for over three hours is not an easy task,” Shelton said. “I keep on looking up at the screen like, ‘Oh, shoot, Jalen Brunson’s here.’”
Brunson also got involved in the action.
He and Josh Hart threw out the ceremonial first pitches before a June 17 game at Yankee Stadium.
And on July 18, Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns took part in the WWE “Saturday Night’s Main Event” in its return to Madison Square Garden.
ESPYS and more
It was a productive ESPY Awards for Brunson, who received three individual honors at the sports-centered ceremony at Lincoln Center on July 15.
Brunson took home the trophies for Best NBA Player, Best Championship Performance and Best Athlete in Men’s Sports. The Knicks, meanwhile, were recognized as the Best Team.
TIME magazine named Brunson one of its 100 Most Influential People in Sports in 2026, and he delivered a toast during a TIME gala at Chelsea Piers on July 16.
Then on Sept. 24, Brunson made a surprise cameo during his friend and Knicks superfan Mariska Hargitay’s opening monologue at the Emmys.
“It’s just a lot of pressure. Have you ever felt like there were millions of eyes on you and it all comes down to one night?” Hargitay asked in a pre-recorded sketch.
That set up a cutaway to Brunson, who said, “Seriously?”
So much media
Following the championship, Brunson appeared on “Good Morning America,” “The View,” “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and the “Today” show.
He and Hart also hosted multiple live tapings of their podcast, the “Roommates Show,” in New York, including an episode with Yankees star Aaron Judge at Fanatics Fest on July 16.
And New York Magazine featured Brunson in a cover story headlined, “It’s Good to be King.”
Pop power
JB, meet JB.
Brunson met Justin Bieber — whose music he famously listens to before games — at Fanatics Fest.
In an Instagram post, Bieber described meeting Brunson as a “big moment” with “so much loveeeeee.”
Brunson also received a shoutout from Harry Styles during the Sept. 12 concert in the pop star’s residency at the Garden.
“He’s just trying to have a quiet night out,” Styles said in a viral clip. “Not a chance.”
Saturday Night Live
This technically happened in the first weekend of the fall, but we’ll count it.
On Sept. 26, Brunson became the first Knick and the fifth NBA player to host NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” where he was joined by the musical guest KATSEYE.
Brunson’s top moments included an opening monologue in which Knicks teammates asked questions from the crowd, as well as a parody of an edgier “High School Musical.”
“I think his performance was fine,” Hart, who appeared in Brunson’s monologue, deadpanned at Knicks media day. “I don’t think he has a future in acting.”
Law & Order: SVU
Hargitay might feel differently than Hart about Brunson’s acting chops.
That’s because Brunson is making a guest appearance on the Hargitay-led “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” Premiering on Nov. 5, Brunson’s cameo will come on the fifth episode of Season 27.
Brunson manifested this moment. When the NBA’s social media account asked what was next after his NBA Finals victory, Brunson quipped that he would “try to get on SVU.”
Mission accomplished.
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