When Is Jalen Brunson Guest Starring on Law & Order: SVU? Episode & Air Date Details
“Watch out for King Brunson!”
After months of speculation and some very on-the-nose teases from Mariska Hargitay herself, NBC confirmed New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson will guest star in an upcoming episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 28.
Fresh off making an unforgettable cameo in a pre-taped segment alongside Hargitay at the 78th Emmy Awards, the perennial NBA all-star will make his long-awaited debut on the small screen this fall on Law & Order: SVU.
Read on for all the details on Brunson’s upcoming episode, including when exactly it airs on NBC.
When will Jalen Brunson appear on Law & Order: SVU?
Brunson will appear in Episode 5 of SVU Season 28, which will air on Thursday, November 5 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.
Miss the TV broadcast? You can watch new episodes of SVU Season 28 the following day (Fridays) on Peacock.
Brunson’s SVU guest stint comes just over a month after the star made his Saturday Night Live hosting debut on the show’s September 26 Season 52 premiere.
The newly-crowned NBA Champion’s involvement in a future episode of Law & Order: SVU has been heavily teased by Hargitay ever since she declared Brunson as one of her “bucket list” guest stars along with Jamie Lee Curtis earlier in 2026. Hargitay and Brunson are close friends, with the SVU icon frequently interacting with the Knicks star after home games at Madison Square Garden.
Hargitay, who has played Olivia Benson for all 28 years of the drama’s existence, all but confirmed Brunson would appear on SVU Season 28 during an August 13 conversation with Savannah Guthrie on TODAY.
“I’m hoping that we might — don’t tell anyone, but — see [Brunson] on SVU,” Hargitay told the longtime anchor in a faux-whisper during a discussion centering around her very successful past year. “Don’t tell anyone! But we’ve got some things in the works.”
SVU’s stars on Jalen Brunson’s guest spot: “Watch out for King Brunson!”
Ahead of Brunson’s SVU debut, Season 28 stars Aimé Donna Kelly and Corey Cott shared as many details as they could about the reigning NBA Finals MVP’s upcoming guest role.
“Well, we can tell you it’s Episode 5. And I think that’s about it,” Kelly told NBC Insider, bursting out laughing.
“And that’s about it! Most of that is because we know very little about it,” Cott added. “But watch out for King Brunson, the King of New York. He’s coming!”