Veteran sports broadcaster Ernie Johnson announced Wednesday that he will step down from hosting Inside the NBA after the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
“Just to be clear, I’m not retiring,” Johnson said in a video announcement. “Just cutting back. I’ll still do March Madness and other projects for TNT and CBS, and I’ve just started a new production company called 32 Bowties geared toward telling feel-good stories in sports. So this is by no means the end. It’s just a turning of the page.”
At 70 years old, Johnson has built a media career spanning back to 1979. He initially joined Turner Sports in 1989, establishing a prolific resume that includes coverage of major sporting events such as Wimbledon, the Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and the MLB and NBA playoffs. His contributions have been widely recognized in the industry, earning him six Sports Emmy Awards and an induction into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2023.
While Johnson’s broadcasting portfolio is extensive, hosting Inside the NBA remains his most defining and enduring role. Serving as the steady anchor, he has spent decades playing the straight man alongside analysts Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal. The dynamic chemistry among the quartet has produced countless memorable television moments for basketball fans, ranging from lighthearted studio banter and recurring segments like “Who He Play For!?” to spontaneous reactions to dramatic league events.
The iconic studio show has maintained its distinctive identity following its transition from TNT to ESPN, but Johnson’s upcoming exit marks the approach of a significant transitional era for the program.
