Ernie Johnson says the 2026–27 season will be his last on Inside the NBA. He is 70, and this is his 37th year leading the show. He shared the news in a video on social media.
The show started in 1989 and covers basketball before and after NBA games. Johnson works with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith. He says he made his own choice to leave and feels happy about their many years together.
Johnson does not plan to stop working, but he wants to do less. He will still cover March Madness basketball for TNT and CBS Sports and work on other projects. He also started a company called 32 Bowties to tell happy stories about sport.
Barkley also spoke about leaving during a talk on The Bill Simmons Podcast. He said Johnson asked him to stay for two more years, and he agreed. Barkley said this season would be his last unless Johnson changed his mind and stayed longer.
