Sports broadcasting legend Ernie Johnson made an unexpected announcement on Wednesday afternoon, taking to X to announce that after 37 years of being the traffic-controlling maestro as host of TNT/ESPN’s Inside the NBA , the 2026-2027 season will mark his final one in what’s become an increasingly beloved studio show since its debut in 1990.
In a heartfelt message to his colleagues — the unmistakeable trio of Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith — along with his wife Cheryl Ann and his numerous fans, the 70-year-old Johnson summed it all up by simply stating, “it’s just time.”
Hosting any television show for 37 years is quite a run. And that’s especially the case for Johnson, someone who underwent bypass surgery just a little over a year ago and is currently batting some manageable heart issues, as mentioned in the announcement video.
Serving as the lone voice on the panel who held the lofty task of managing the unfiltered, chaotic voices of Barkley (who joined in 2000) and O’Neal (who came along in 2011), with Smith frequently playing the role of sneaky instigator, makes Johnson’s body of work all the more impressive.
Ernie Johnson Shared a Hilarious Response to Dan Patrick About How it Felt to Host ‘Inside the NBA’
End of an era 🥹
Broadcasting legend Ernie Johnson is stepping away from “Inside the NBA” after 37 unforgettable years at the end of the season 👏 pic.twitter.com/fypNSISJg3— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 28, 2026
During an interview with Dan Patrick in 2025, Johnson addressed that very topic in explaining the special role he has played year in and year out, which is a huge part of the reason why Inside the NBA had such strong staying power, becoming weekly must-see TV for fans, providing an endless library of laugh-out-loud clips.
“I’m the dad driving cross country with these three guys [Barkley, O’Neal, Smith] in the back seat,” Johnson told Patrick, after being referred as the show’s parent.
“Saying, ‘One more peep out of you and I’m turning this thing around!'”
“I’m the dad driving cross country with these three guys in the back seat saying, ‘One more peep out of you and I’m turning this thing around!'”🤣
– @TurnerSportsEJ on hosting Inside the NBA. pic.twitter.com/GLcqztexpQ— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) March 26, 2025
Not only did Johnson do such a great job in weaving his magic wand on a show where he was essentially sitting as the only adult or “parent” at the desk, it always felt nearly impossible to imagine another sports broadcasting personality stepping into that role and doing it so consistently well, using such a healthy balance of professionalism and timely dry humor.
There is one piece of underrated news that should bring some joy to NBA fans, who are otherwise understandably sad to learn of Johnson stepping down.
While this season will indeed be Johnson’s farewell tour as host of the show, ESPN and ABC do hold the rights to the 2026-27 NBA Finals, so we will thankfully be seeing Ernie, Kenny, Chuck and Shaq all the way to the finish line for a proper and fitting goodbye.
Johnson will also continue to make appearances on CBS for March Madness and on TNT for the MLB playoffs, but make no mistake about it — Inside the NBA in its current form would basically take a miracle to replicate to its current level of greatness that we have become so accustomed to for decades.
That’s hardly an overstatement, either, as Johnson has established a true one-of-one type of presence with too many great traits to list in one space.
But look no further than Johnson, 68 years old at the time, rapping for nearly four straight minutes at the NBA legends brunch in 2024 as a prime example.
Ernie Johnson rapping for NBA legends at the legends brunch in 2024 was pure gold!
you the best EJ 👏pic.twitter.com/uJOOkCEjp3 https://t.co/Em3kBeFpLp— Oh No He Didn’t 🤯 (@ohnohedidnt24) October 28, 2026
Enjoy the rest of the ride while you can, because Inside the NBA this season is bound to an extra special one.
