I Did Not See Timothèe Chalamet Name-Dropping Michael Jordan When Talking About How Marty Supreme Came Together

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Marty Supreme is a funny, dramatic, and action-packed sports movie with plenty of wild moments. But at its heart, it’s about a man striving for athletic success. Timothée Chalamet, who has openly talked about his own desire to achieve greatness, clearly connected with his character, Marty Mauser, on that level. Given Chalamet’s ambition, it’s not surprising he fit the role so well, but it was unexpected to learn that Michael Jordan influenced his performance.

As a huge movie and sports fan, I’ve always been in awe of Michael Jordan – his sheer willpower and competitive spirit really made the Chicago Bulls the team of the ’90s. I recently saw a clip of Timothée Chalamet talking about Jordan on YouTube’s 7PM in Brooklyn, and it got me thinking. They were discussing how success looks different in various fields, and Timothée shared his experience watching a basketball documentary – and it was fascinating to hear his take.

That’s why The Last Dance stands out as Marty Supreme’s most impactful work, even more so than any of his other films. It really captured Michael Jordan’s relentless drive, his dedication to being the best, and even his difficult personality.

The 2020 docuseries The Last Dance follows the Chicago Bulls’ 1997-1998 season, ending with their sixth – and currently final – championship win. Available on Netflix, the series offers a detailed look into Michael Jordan’s mindset and helps explain why many consider him one of the greatest athletes of all time. It was highly praised upon release and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.

It was surprising to hear Timothée Chalamet mention Michael Jordan when talking about how the film Marty Supreme was made, but it actually fits well. Chalamet is a huge basketball fan and even said he’d love to play Ernie Johnson in a movie about Inside the NBA. More importantly, Jordan was known for his incredible focus and drive, qualities that also define Marty Mauser’s passion for table tennis. When discussing whether he was being overly serious during filming, Chalamet explained his reasoning.

It’s interesting how we talk about being respectful of culture when enjoying things like hip hop, and also about keeping things private on set. But then you watch documentaries like ‘The Last Dance’ and see how intensely competitive Michael Jordan was, or think about Kobe Bryant, and realize intensity is often a key part of greatness. It makes you question where we draw the line between respecting boundaries and acknowledging drive.

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Kobe Bryant was known for his incredible focus, and he developed that partly by carefully studying Michael Jordan – both his playing style and his mindset. Similarly, Timothée Chalamet clearly put a lot of preparation into his role in Marty Supreme, and it’s paying off. He’s receiving widespread praise for his performance, including a Critics’ Choice Award and recognition as a 2026 Golden Globe winner.

Marty Mauser isn’t a particularly good person, but he’s incredibly determined and persistent – he reminds you of legendary athletes like Michael Jordan. Actor Timothée Chalamet seems to be using Jordan as inspiration for his performance, and you can see the results in his new movie, Marty Supreme, now in theaters.

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2026-01-17 20:08