Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 2 hrs ago
Ernie Johnson to leave Inside the NBA after 2026-27 season
Ernie Johnson will leave Inside the NBA after this season, ending his 37-year run as the show's host.
The 70-year-old made the announcement in a video, saying the decision was his and that he wanted to cut back.
Johnson said he is not retiring and plans to keep working, including on men's college basketball coverage and other projects.
He said the demands of preparing for each show, along with heart problems and wanting more time with his family, helped shape his decision.
Inside the NBA moved from TNT to ESPN and ABC last season after TNT's NBA media rights deal ended.
The show is known for Johnson's on-air partnership with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal, and has won more than 20 Sports Emmy Awards.
Barkley has also said this is his final season, but his plans have changed before, and the futures of Smith and O'Neal are not settled.
The show is scheduled to continue through the 2026-27 season and the NBA playoffs, with no further details on its lineup confirmed.
Ernie Johnson says the 2026-27 season will be his last as host of “Inside the NBA.”
Johnson said the decision was his and that he is stepping back, not retiring.
He plans to continue working on March Madness and other projects for TNT and CBS.
Johnson cited the demands of the job, health issues and wanting more time with his family.
The show moved from TNT to ESPN and ABC last season.
- Who
- Ernie Johnson, longtime host of “Inside the NBA.
- What
- He announced that the 2026-27 season will be his last hosting the show.
- When
- He made the announcement on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
- Where
- In a video message posted to his social media channel.
- Why
- He said it was his decision, citing the demands of the job, health issues and wanting more time with his family.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Johnson joined Turner Sports.
Johnson began hosting “Inside the NBA.
The show moved from TNT to ESPN and ABC.
Johnson announced that the 2026-27 season would be his last hosting the show.
- Final season
- 2026-27
- Age
- 70
- Turner Sports
- Johnson joined in 1989
- Show hosting began
- 1990
- Sports Emmy Awards
- The show has won 21, according to USA Today
4 sources
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What people are saying
Just cutting back. ... So this is by no means the end. It's just a turning of the page.
This will be my last season. Totally my decision. It’s just time.
I feel great, so this isn’t a case where my doctor said: ‘You need to stop working,’ it’s nothing like that.
Me and Ernie are a package deal.
Posts on X
It’s time. 🤟🤟🏾🤟🏻🤟🏽