New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson missed several attempts to shoot paper balls into a trash can while hosting “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend — but it was apparently due to fan interference.
“There was a blower in the garbage can, making it literally impossible for Jalen to score until the final shot,” wrote “SNL” writer Dan Bulla of the NBA Finals MVP in an Instagram story update on Sunday.
Brunson — who played “Darius Barcelona” in a sketch titled “Office MVP” — cuts off his co-workers’ attempts to return to work after lunch by crumbling up a sandwich wrapper into a ball, declaring there are just “seconds” left on the clock and hurling a shot toward a trash can across from him.
Brunson, who shot 38.9% from three-point range in the Finals, air-balled it.
He came up way short on multiple other attempts, as well, despite his co-workers’ efforts to dissuade him from throwing up more garbage shots.
Eventually, he revealed to his co-workers that he was actually Brunson, leading them to cheer him on as he leaned back in his office chair and attempted a shot “for all the marbles.”
And Brunson, in true NBA champion fashion, nailed it.
Bulla revealed that Brunson and the “SNL” cast members had two sets of cue cards drafted for the ending: one if he made the last shot and one if he missed.
“He missed at dress [rehearsal] but hit the shot ON AIR,” added Bulla, who continued, “because @jalenbrunson1 is BUILT FOR THE MOMENT!!!”
Check out the full “Office MVP” sketch from the Season 52 premiere of “Saturday Night Live.”