Ernie Johnson is ready to hang up his hosting hat after the 2026-27 season, but he's not ready to see Inside the NBA fade away with him. In a candid chat on Front Office Sports Tonight, the legendary broadcaster made one thing clear: he hopes the show lives on.
“I don't want to be blamed for ending Inside the NBA,” Johnson said, half-joking. “In my role, I'm just stepping away from my role on there. I would hope they continue the show in some form. There are plenty of great studio hosts out there who could do what I do.”
Johnson also touched on the future of his longtime colleague Charles Barkley, who has also announced plans to retire after this season. “As for what (Charles Barkley) is gonna do, I learned many, many moons ago that I could never predict what Chuckster is gonna do,” Johnson added with a laugh.
The 2026-27 campaign marks the end of an era for Johnson, who has been the steady hand guiding Inside the NBA since 1990. Over 37 seasons, he's anchored the show through countless NBA Finals, trade deadlines, and unforgettable moments, balancing the larger-than-life personalities of Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal.
That chemistry turned the show into a cultural phenomenon, blending sharp basketball analysis with unscripted humor and viral exchanges. Under Johnson's leadership, the program racked up 21 Sports Emmy Awards and earned the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy Transformative Media Award in 2020.
Johnson's tenure hasn't been without personal hurdles. He battled cancer in 2006, missing some broadcasts during treatment, and faced the devastating loss of his son Michael in 2021. Through it all, he remained a beloved figure in the sports media world.
The show's future has been a topic of conversation since TNT Sports lost its NBA broadcast rights after the 2024-25 season. Inside the NBA continued under a production agreement with TNT Sports, moving to ESPN and ABC starting with the 2025-26 season.
Johnson announced his retirement earlier this week, citing the increasing demands of preparation and a desire to spend more time with family. He emphasized he's not leaving television entirely, just stepping back from the nightly grind.
As for who might take the helm next, Johnson is confident the show is in good hands. “There are plenty of great studio hosts out there who could do what I do,” he said. And while he's ready to pass the torch, he's hopeful the legacy of Inside the NBA will continue without him.
For fans, the next two seasons will be a celebration of Johnson's remarkable career. For Johnson, it's about ensuring the show he helped build doesn't end with his departure. As he put it, he'd rather see it thrive than be the one to pull the plug.
