Since the Knicks won the NBA championship, Jalen Brunson has been everywhere. He hosted “Saturday Night Live.”, and now he’s at the Emmys.
On Monday night, the 78th Emmy Awards opened with a pre-tape musical number featuring Brunson, the Knicks point guard who led his team to the franchise’s first title in 53 years. The song was titled “I Love TV Screens,” and it set the tone for a live continuation that brought in Brunson’s biggest fan: Mariska Hargitay, the “Law & Order: SVU” star who became a fixture at the Knicks’ playoff games.
Both Hargitay and Brunson treated their appearance as a performance. She steam-ironed her dress opposite him, while he did the same to his jersey. The gesture underscored the event’s gravity and the fame of the two stars involved.
The Opening Number
The 78th Emmy Awards kicked off with a pre-tape musical number featuring Brunson, the Knicks point guard who led his team to the franchise’s first title in 53 years. The song was titled “I Love TV Screens,” and it set the tone for a live continuation that brought in Brunson’s biggest fan: Mariska Hargitay, the “Law & Order: SVU” star who became a fixture at the Knicks’ playoff games.
Brunson brought the song to life on stage, joined by Hargitay along with dancers and extras.
The Steam Ironing Exchange
Side by side on stage, Brunson and Hargitay took their places for the live portion of the opening number. The conversation started when Hargitay asked Brunson about pressure.
“It’s just a lot of pressure,” Hargitay said. “Have you ever felt like you had millions of eyes on you and it all comes down to one night?”
“Seriously?” Brunson replied, playing along with the light-hearted question.
The moment turned to a reference to the Knicks’ championship run. Hargitay referenced the tip-in by OG Anunoby in the team’s championship series against the San Antonio Spurs.
“Hey, Jalen, it’s just me. I don’t have anyone to step it in for me,” Hargitay said, referring to the now-iconic play.
The exchange was light-hearted, but it carried weight. Hargitay’s presence at the Emmys was itself a statement. She had sat courtside during Game 4 of the Knicks’ five-game NBA championship series, where the team overcame a record 29-point comeback to take a 3-1 series lead and later win the title in Game 5.
Hargitay’s Courtside Seat
More than just the game made Hargitay’s seat at Game 4 stand out. Sitting beside her were Taylor Swift, Alana Haim and Este Haim, each clad in a custom Knicks t-shirt presented by Swift.
Game 4 ended with the now-iconic tip-in by OG Anunoby with 1.2 seconds left that sealed the game and gave the Knicks the win. The play was a key moment of the championship run, and Hargitay was there to see it happen.
“I was there,” she said later, describing the moment as one she would treasure forever.
What Hargitay Said About Brunson
Before the Emmys, Hargitay had already made her feelings about Brunson known publicly. She told Variety after Game 4 why she thinks he acts like a leader.
“I want everyone to throw out every book on leadership they have and replace it with a photo of Jalen,” Hargitay told Variety the day after the game. “We have so much to learn from his brand of strength. And it’s not just his own strength, his whole family’s heart beats inside him when he plays.”
That evening’s meeting gave her something to be thankful for, and she let others know it.
“And I feel so lucky, so honored, so grateful, that in the future when people talk about that game, which they will forever and ever, I get to say ‘I was there,'” she continued. “I can’t tell you how much I love and respect and cherish this Knicks team!!”
The words she spoke described a player who brings his family with him onto the court. She presented the championship run as something she wanted to hold onto, a shared experience.
The Championship Run
The Knicks’ title push went down as something rare in NBA history. After falling behind by 29 points in Game 4 against the Spurs, they rallied for a comeback that set a mark for the biggest turnaround ever in a Finals contest. That win gave them a 3-1 lead in the series.
In Game 5, the franchise finally broke its long wait, closing out the series for its first championship in 53 years.
Brunson’s role in the championship was central. He led the team through the comeback, and his leadership was the subject of Hargitay’s praise.
The Emmys Performance
A musical number came before the recording began, and it carried the title “I Love TV Screens.”. Afterward, the show moved on with a live segment that brought Hargitay together with a group of dancers and extras.
Brunson kept the song going live, with Hargitay joining him on stage, accompanied by dancers and extras.
The championship-winning play involved a tip-in, and Hargitay noted it with a pointed reference to that very move. It secured the win, and he was on hand to witness it.
The Numbers
- Title: 78th Emmy Awards
- Opening song: “I Love TV Screens”
- Championship series: Knicks vs. San Antonio Spurs, five games
- Comeback: 29 points, Game 4
- Series lead: 3-1 after Game 4
- Championship win: Game 5
- Drought broken: 53 years
- Brunson’s next hosting gig: “Saturday Night Live,” Sept. 26
The opening number at the Emmys included a performance of the original song “I Love TV Screens.”. A steam ironing exchange served as the theatrical touch.
The Knicks are back. And so is Jalen Brunson.
What stands out most is the scale of it. Brunson led his team to a championship in a city that hadn’t won one in 53 years. Hargitay showed up courtside during the biggest moments, sitting next to three of the biggest names in pop culture. And now she’s bringing that championship energy to the biggest night in television.
Hargitay, one of the most recognizable faces on television, made a statement at the Emmys. Her performance was theatrical, but it also served a purpose. She chose to honor the Knicks at the start of the ceremony, and that meant something.
On Sept. 26, Brunson steps into the hosting chair for “Saturday Night Live”, and that appearance marks yet another milestone in a year that has remade his story. He moved from championship point guard to national television host, and now stands among the most visible athletes in the country.
The Emmys opening number succeeded. A steam ironing exchange stood out. The Knicks’ championship story keeps spreading.
The Knicks are back. And so is Jalen Brunson.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.