Ernie Johnson has announced that the 2026–27 season will be his last as host of “Inside the NBA.” The 70-year-old shared the news in a social media video, saying the decision was entirely his own. He is now in his 37th season hosting the show.
“Inside the NBA,” which began in 1989, covers basketball before and after games. Johnson appears alongside Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith. In his announcement, he expressed appreciation for the decades he has spent with his colleagues.
Although Johnson is leaving the show, he is not retiring. He will continue covering the March Madness college basketball tournament and working on other projects for TNT and CBS. He has also started 32 Bowties, a production company that will focus on positive sports stories.
Johnson's departure could also mean the end of Barkley's time on the program. Speaking on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” the previous month, Barkley said this season would be his last unless Johnson changed his mind and stayed. He explained that he had agreed to remain for two more years at Johnson's request, but that he planned to leave when Johnson did.
