Thu May 29 23:50:00 UTC 2025: **FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Timothée Chalamet Courts Ernie Johnson, Declares Intent to Star in Potential Biopic**

**Indianapolis, IN** – Oscar-nominated actor and die-hard New York Knicks fan Timothée Chalamet has finally met his dream biopic subject: legendary TNT analyst and “Inside the NBA” host, Ernie Johnson. The highly anticipated meeting took place Tuesday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, where both were in attendance for Game 4 of the Knicks-Pacers Eastern Conference Finals series.

Chalamet, previously known for his role as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown,” had expressed his desire to portray Johnson in a future biopic, a notion that went viral and even made its way onto an episode of “Inside the NBA” earlier this year.

The meet-and-greet was orchestrated by fellow actor and Knicks aficionado Ben Stiller. Witnesses report that Chalamet was enthusiastic about the prospect of playing Johnson, repeatedly stating, “I’m playing you in the biopic, I’m playing you in the biopic,” while shaking Johnson’s hand.

Johnson, who previously joked on “Inside the NBA” that Chalamet wouldn’t need five years to prepare for his role like he did for Dylan, reciprocated the excitement, telling Chalamet, “You’ve made me the coolest grandpa of all time.”

This isn’t the first time Chalamet has shown appreciation for the “Inside the NBA” crew. In February, he lauded former NBA player and TNT analyst Kenny Smith as a “style icon,” showcasing his keen eye for fashion.

While the possibility of an Ernie Johnson biopic remains hypothetical, Chalamet has firmly positioned himself as the frontrunner for the role, should the project ever come to fruition.

Unfortunately, for the Knicks fan Chalamet, his team fell to the Pacers 130-121, placing them in a 3-1 series deficit. The Knicks now face elimination in Game 5, scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. ET in New York.

**About Blake Silverman:**

Blake Silverman is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the WNBA, NBA, G League and college basketball for numerous sites, including Winsidr, SB Nation’s Detroit Bad Boys and A10Talk. He graduated from Michigan State University before receiving a master’s in sports journalism from St. Bonaventure University.

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