Ernie Johnson is leaving Inside the NBA after this season, ending a 37-season run as host of the studio show that now airs on ESPN and ABC. Johnson made the announcement Wednesday in a video posted to social media, saying the decision was entirely his own.
“This will be my last season,” Johnson said. “Totally my decision. It’s just time. It’s been an honor to share so many nights, decades actually, at the desk with my brothers, Kenny, Charles, and Shaq, and with our production crews, who are so talented and devoted.”
Why Ernie Johnson Says It’s Time
Johnson said the work he has always loved most, the hours of preparation before every show, is where he noticed the change. “I’ve always vowed that if that ever became more of a challenge than it is a joy, then I’ll know it’s time to step away,” he said. “I know after 37 seasons, it’s time.”
He also pointed to health issues and a wish to spend more time with his family. Johnson made clear he is not retiring from television. He will still work NCAA March Madness and other TNT and CBS projects, and he is starting a production company called 32 Bowties focused on feel-good sports stories.
“This is by no means the end,” Johnson said. “It’s just a turning of the page.”
What It Means For Inside The NBA On ESPN
Johnson has been the full-time host of Inside the NBA since 1990, working alongside Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. The show moved to ESPN and ABC after TNT lost its NBA rights, and TNT Sports still produces it from its Atlanta studios.
This season, ESPN has the show scheduled for 25 regular season appearances across ESPN and ABC, with pregame, halftime and postgame coverage around many of its biggest game windows. That includes weekly shows through the season’s first four weeks, a presence after the NBA on Christmas, and coverage through January before NBA Saturday Primetime begins on ABC. The playoff schedule, including the conference finals and NBA Finals, will be announced later in the season, so the date of Johnson’s final show is not known yet.
ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro responded to the news by calling Johnson “one of sports media’s most respected and beloved figures.” “For more than three decades, he has been the heart of Inside the NBA, helping create one of the most iconic and entertaining studio shows in sports,” Pitaro said. “We are grateful for Ernie’s extraordinary contributions and look forward to celebrating him throughout the season.”
Johnson closed his message by thanking fans for their loyalty, their love, their support and “on this day, for your understanding.” Then he signed off: “We’ll see you on TV tonight.”
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