When Hollywood makes the Ernie Johnson biopic, one actor is already signing up to play the movie version of the beloved basketball broadcaster.
In a hilarious crossover between the sports and movie world, Timothée Chalamet shook hands with Johnson before the Knicks’ Game 4 loss to the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals after being introduced to the “Inside the NBA” host by fellow actor Ben Stiller.
The “Dune” star and the “Meet the Parents” actor were part of the traveling contingent of celebrity Knicks fans who traveled to see the playoff matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Tuesday night.
Stiller appeared to be wrapping up a conversation with Johnson when he called over Chalamet to introduce him to the broadcaster.
The two quickly shook hands, and as Chalamet stood up, he immediately declared he wanted to play Johnson in a future movie.
“I’m playing you in the biopic,” he exclaimed.
Chalamet repeated the sentence one more time before Johnson started to tell the Hollywood A-lister that he had made him the “coolest grandpa of all time” as Stiller looked on with a grin on his face.
Chalamet and Johnson briefly chatted before Johnson turned to Stiller and the video ends.
Unfortunately for Stiller, Chalamet and Spike Lee — who was also on hand for the game — the Knicks did not pull out a win in Game 4, putting them on the brink of elimination, headed back to New York for Game 5 on Thursday.
Among the other notable fans on hand for Tuesday’s game were 50 Cent, who appeared to be repping for the Pacers, and ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
McAfee even cut a WWE-style promo, antagonizing Stiller, Chalamet and Lee.
“Let’s send these sons of bitches back to New York with their ears ringing,” McAfee said on the video board during the fourth quarter.