Jalen Brunson to join Variety's New York sports studio
Will Jalen Brunson join Variety's inaugural New York Sports & Entertainment Studio? Yes — on July 16 the Knicks star sits down with J.P. Morgan Wealth Management CEO Kristin Lemkau to talk athlete financial education after New York's historic 2026 NBA championship win.
Key Takeaways
- Variety launches its first Sports & Entertainment interview studio in New York City on July 16.
- Knicks star Jalen Brunson joins for a financial-education conversation with Kristin Lemkau of J.P. Morgan Wealth Management.
- Brunson will discuss his role on the JPMorganChase Athlete Council after the Knicks' 2026 NBA title.
- Other guests include Jay Williams, Russell Wilson, Jimmie Johnson, State Farm's Kristyn Cook, and PepsiCo's Carolyn Braff.
- The studio spotlights the converging worlds of sports, entertainment, and streaming.
What is Variety's new Sports & Entertainment Studio?
Variety is relocating its acclaimed Sports & Entertainment franchise into a first-ever interview studio in New York City. The July 16 sessions will feature conversations with athletes, creators, executives, and storytellers shaping the business at the crossroads of sports and entertainment.
Co-president and publisher Dea Lawrence framed the launch as a response to how sports and entertainment now influence culture together. The New York backdrop, she said, makes the studio a premier destination for those talks. Fans following Streaming & TV Alerts will recognize the streaming angle: Variety is explicitly spotlighting the overlapping sports, entertainment, and streaming conversation.
Why does Jalen Brunson join Variety's lineup matter?
Fresh off a historic 2026 NBA championship with the New York Knicks, Brunson brings championship-era clout to Variety's opening New York slate. His sit-down with Lemkau will center on financial education for athletes and how he hopes to inspire the next generation as a member of the JPMorganChase Athlete Council.
That pairing — a title-winning Knicks star and a top wealth-management executive — signals the studio's intent to go beyond game-day soundbites. According to Variety's report, Brunson's appearance is a marquee moment for the franchise's New York debut.
Who else is appearing at the New York studio?
Variety's curated conversations will also feature ESPN personality, entrepreneur, and investor Jay Williams; Super Bowl champion quarterback, entrepreneur, and sports owner Russell Wilson; and seven-time NASCAR Cup champion and Legacy Motor Club team owner Jimmie Johnson.
Brand-side voices round out the bill: Kristyn Cook, EVP and chief agency, marketing, and sales officer at State Farm, and Carolyn Braff, VP of sports and entertainment at PepsiCo. Together with Brunson, the guest list underscores how athletes, media figures, and corporate partners now share the same stage when sports culture meets entertainment and streaming.
For audiences tracking studio specials and sports-media crossovers, Variety's inaugural New York interview studio is the next major stop on the calendar — with Brunson as its highest-profile draw.