Actor Timothée Chalamet took to Instagram on Tuesday to share photos of his mother, Nicole Flender, meeting Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
The heartwarming moment came after Chalamet appeared as a guest on the 22-time All-Star’s “Mind the Game” podcast Monday night, with anticipation building for the soon-to-be-released episode.
LeBron James Embraces Timothée Chalamet’s Mother at Special Podcast Recording
Chalamet joined James and his podcast co-host Steve Nash for a special edition of their podcast to promote “Marty Supreme,” his A24 film that has earned nine Oscar nominations. The actor is nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of table tennis prodigy Marty Mauser.
Chalamet’s viral Instagram photos featured his mother locking arms with the 6-foot-9 basketball great in a wholesome embrace following the live recording at DGA Theater in Los Angeles.
“Mom and the [GOAT],” Chalamet captioned his first photo.
Flender attended Monday’s event one day after accompanying her son to the 2026 Actor Awards on Sunday. The mother-son duo walked the red carpet at LA’s Shrine Auditorium, with Flender wearing a bright pink gown while Chalamet donned an off-white blazer with black trousers.
A video from Monday, which surfaced online, depicted Chalamet snapping photos of his mother’s interaction with James while the two exchanged words of encouragement.
“I love you, man,” Flender said. “I love you. I love you so much.”
“I love you. You should be proud of your boy, too,” James responded.
“I’m proud of you. Are you kidding? I’m proud of you,” Flender answered.
LeBron James meets Timothée Chalamet’s mom: “You should be proud of your boy” pic.twitter.com/6fgpo5gM6e
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) March 4, 2026
As for Chalamet, he is a known basketball fanatic who regularly attends New York Knicks games. He has also appeared on several podcasts during his “Marty Supreme” promotional tour.
Chalamet’s “Mind the Game” podcast appearance is set to release on Thursday on YouTube and Prime Video, where he and James are sure to discuss the pursuit of greatness, his movie’s prevailing theme.
“Marty Supreme” has become A24’s highest-grossing film, grossing $157.2 million worldwide since its Christmas Day release. Chalamet trained extensively for his role, with his commitment to mastering table tennis earning widespread praise from critics and audiences.
The 30-year-old is currently favored to win his first Oscar at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15 after receiving his third acting nomination. He was previously nominated for “Call Me by Your Name” in 2018 and “A Complete Unknown” in 2025, but has yet to secure a prestigious Best Actor trophy.
