Longtime "Inside the NBA" host Ernie Johnson announced on Wednesday that the 2026-27 season will be his last leading the popular studio show. Johnson, 70, made the announcement in a video posted to social media, saying the decision was entirely his own and that "it's just time."
Johnson has been with the program since its debut in 1989, making the upcoming season his 37th. He emphasized that he is not retiring from broadcasting entirely; he will continue to work on TNT and CBS Sports' March Madness coverage and has launched a new production company, 32 Bowties, focused on feel-good sports stories.
"This is by no means the end. It's just a turning of the page," Johnson said. "I'll forever cherish every chapter we have written with Inside the NBA."
The news also affects fellow analyst Charles Barkley, who said last month on "The Bill Simmons Podcast" that he would likely leave the show after this season unless Johnson decided to stay. "Me and Ernie are a package deal," Barkley stated. "If he says he's done, I'm gone."
