PurposeThe　paper　aims　to　explore　the　relationship　between　mentor　autonomy　support　and　the　mentor＇s　thriving　at　work　from　the　perspective　of　the　mentor　and　to　clarify　the　internal　logical　relationship　between　basic　psychological　needs　satisfaction　under　the　condition　of　mentorship.Design/methodology/approachThe　paper　employed　a　three-wave,　time-separated　design　to　investigate　a　sample　of　240　mentor-prot　&　eacute;g　&　eacute;　pairs.　The　moderated　mediation　model　was　examined　using　latent　structural　equation　model　analysis.FindingsWe　found　that　mentor　autonomy　support　increases　the　mentor＇s　thriving　at　work　through　the　mentor＇s　basic　needs　satisfaction.　Additionally,　the　relationship　between　mentor　autonomy　support　and　the　mentor＇s　basic　needs　satisfaction　was　moderated　by　prot　&　eacute;g　&　eacute;＇s　task　performance.Practical　implicationsConsidering　the　facilitative　role　of　mentor　autonomy　support　in　promoting　mentors＇　development　and　flourishing,　organizations　should　adjust　mentor　selection　and　training　strategies　to　enhance　mentors＇　understanding　and　ability　to　provide　autonomy　support.Originality/valueThe　paper　comprehensively　depicted　the　impact　mechanism　model　of　how　mentorship　benefits　mentors　themselves　from　a　motivational　perspective.　It　addressed　gaps　in　research　on　the　effects　of　high-quality　mentorship　on　mentors,　further　advancing　the　comprehensive　development　of　mentorship　theory.