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Kenny Smith talks about getting hundreds of thousands of female followers because of Timothée Chalamet
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- Kenny Smith talks about getting hundreds of thousands of female followers because of Timothée Chalamet
Kenny Smith is today known among NBA fans as a host on the "Inside the NBA on ESPN" show alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley and Ernie Johnson. His sharp analysis has, in many ways, shaped the NBA media landscape over the past decade, not surprising given that he's a two-time NBA champion.
In the '90s, he starred with the Houston Rockets , playing a key role in their run to the Larry O'Brien trophy, finishing his career in 1997 with the Denver Nuggets . Beyond his performance on the court, Smith was also known for his distinctive fashion sense, which became especially visible during "Inside the NBA on ESPN", where he often impressed with his style.
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What he couldn't have imagined was that his fashion influence would reach someone like Timothée Chalamet.
"I'm not on Instagram a lot, but when I go on and I'm seeing all of this, like DMs or comments, I'm looking at the comments and it's from people I literally don't know," Smith said on "Big Boy TV".
"I probably got like 100 comments in a day. So that's unusual. Timothée Chalamet is on a show and they asked him, 'Who was your fashion consultant?' He goes, 'Oh, I look at Kenny Smith from" Inside the NBA".' Every 15 to 30-year-old female started following me because of that. So I've never met him in my life."
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Chalamet is a die-hard Knicks fan
Chalamet is a rising star in Hollywood, taking it by storm. His role as Kyle Scheele in "Homeland" initially drew critical attention, but the real breakthrough was "Call Me By Your Name", which earned him an Oscar nomination, making him the youngest male nominee for a leading role in decades at just 21.
Chalamet is also a die-hard New York Knicks fan, following games from the front row at Madison Square Garden whenever he gets the chance. Outside of film, he has become recognized for his fashion sense, which Smith's story confirms.
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"So now we're doing March Madness the very next weekend in New York. Charles Barkley is in the restaurant, sitting with two ladies and he's like, 'This is Kenny Smith.' So the ladies are like, 'Who?' And Charles goes, 'His son is Timothée Chalamet's mom.' And she calls him and she's like, 'Oh, Timothée, some guy Kenny.' And he's like, 'Yeah, Kenny Smith, that's my fashion guy. She had no clue,'" Smith recalled while bursting into laughter.
Kenny won his first NBA title against the Knicks
Chalamet, who is in a relationship with Kylie Jenner, half-sister of the Kardashian sisters, known in NBA circles for their relationships with NBA players, found inspiration in a man who, after his playing career, probably never expected to be remembered by the younger generation for his fashion sense rather than his on-court performance.
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Smith's second NBA title came in 1995, the year Timothée was born, adding an interesting layer to this age gap story.
The first title in 1994 came against the Knicks in a 4-3 series win. Even though Chalamet was born afterward, it didn't stop him from finding a fashion role model in the Rockets icon who left Knicks fans devastated.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
