New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is swapping his basketball shoes for a detective badge this fall. NBC confirmed that Brunson will guest star in the upcoming Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode titled “Forsaken,” the fifth installment of the show’s 28th season.
Episode details and air date
The episode is scheduled to air Thursday, Nov. 5 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC. Viewers who miss the broadcast can stream the episode on Peacock the following day.
Brunson’s role and on‑screen partnership
In the episode, Brunson plays Detective Madison, who is called in by Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) to assist with a case. The pairing reflects a real‑life friendship that began when Hargitay discovered Brunson, who signed with the Knicks in 2022, is a longtime fan of the series.
“I was so flattered and thrilled, because I was such a huge fan,” Hargitay told NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers last year. Brunson has echoed that sentiment on his own podcast, The Roommates Show, saying he has always loved SVU and that watching the show is part of his gameday routine. He admitted he was starstruck the first time he met Hargitay.
Cross‑promotional moments
Hargitay is a regular presence at Madison Square Garden for Knicks games and even participated in the team’s championship ticker‑tape parade in June. The 2026 NBA Finals MVP has returned the favor, cheering Hargitay on for recent projects. Over the summer he attended her Broadway production “Every Brilliant Thing,” and last year he attended the premiere of Hargitay’s documentary “My Mom Jayne,” which earned her two 2026 Emmy Awards.
The two also collaborated on a prerecorded sketch that opened the 2026 Emmys, which Hargitay hosted in September. Ahead of her hosting duties, Hargitay appeared on TODAY, where a surprise video message from Brunson was shown wishing her good luck.
Recent media appearances
Brunson’s SVU cameo follows his hosting of the Season 52 premiere of NBC’s Saturday Night Live, which aired a little over a month earlier.
Fans of both the Knicks and Law & Order: SVU can look forward to seeing the crossover on Nov. 5, a reminder of how sports figures can bridge into popular culture while supporting the shows and creators they admire.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut — read the source article.
