Longtime studio host Ernie Johnson announced Wednesday he will leave Inside the NBA at the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, marking the end of a 37-year run anchoring the show.
The 70-year-old broadcaster confirmed the news via video, stressing that the departure was his own choice and that he is not fully retiring from television. Johnson has anchored Inside the NBA across its multiple iterations since 1990, having joined Turner Sports in 1989. While his final broadcast with Inside the NBA is months away around the Finals in June 2027, the announcement immediately reshapes the future of the program and triggers questions about the rest of the broadcast booth.
“Few people have shaped the way fans experience the NBA as profoundly as Ernie Johnson. His brilliance as a broadcaster is matched by his character, compassion and generosity, which have been evident throughout his 37 years as host of ‘Inside the NBA.’ We are grateful for… https://t.co/BNjGdNRVmk
Adam Silver and Draymond Green React to the Departure
Reactions from across the basketball world rolled in quickly after the announcement. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement praising the broadcaster's lasting influence on the sport's fans and media coverage.
Few people have shaped the way fans experience the NBA as profoundly as Ernie Johnson. His brilliance as a broadcaster is matched by his character, compassion and generosity, which have been evident throughout his 37 years as host of ‘Inside the NBA.’ We are grateful for Ernie’s extraordinary impact on our league and look forward to celebrating him during his final season.
Draymond reacts to Ernie Johnson's retirement"Having an opportunity to work with Ernie on the set with those guys and I say this with all due respect, (Ernie) is the best point guard I've ever played with and that's no disrespect to the great Steph Curry… Ernie Johnson on a… pic.twitter.com/dVgEGDtiKz
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who has made frequent guest appearances on the studio show, offered high praise for Johnson’s mastery of the live format on his podcast, The Draymond Green Show.
Green also marveled at Johnson’s ability to steer chaotic broadcasts back on course.
He sees everything. He’s like, ‘Man, this guy hasn’t spoken for a while. Let me toss it to him. This conversation has gone off the rails a little bit, as it can on that show. Let me rein it back in.’
Charles Barkley and the Future of the Broadcast Table
Johnson’s exit creates an immediate question mark regarding fellow analyst Charles Barkley. The Basketball Hall-of-Famer previously told Bill Simmons on a podcast that he and Johnson would depart the show together in a year. Green noted that Barkley’s hinted retirement may be serious this time now that Johnson has made his decision official.
Replacing Johnson as the unifying force who brings analysts Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith together presents a major hurdle. If Barkley follows him out the door, the resulting overhaul would essentially signal an entirely new program.
Networks and Production Plans Beyond Next Season
Although Johnson is leaving the flagship basketball show, he plans to maintain a busy schedule. He will continue his work across CBS and TNT covering men’s March Madness, stay involved with other network projects, and run his production company, 32 Bowties.
Neither ESPN nor the studio team has formally announced specific replacement plans for the show’s format or cast following the 2026-27 season. The transition offers the network an opening to adjust its studio appeal toward younger audiences, aligning existing voices with recently retired players in ways similar to NBC and Amazon’s basketball coverage.
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Ernie Johnson has announced that this will be his final season hosting Inside the NBA. pic.twitter.com/zQDvLVJXqq
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🚨 BREAKING: Ernie Johnson announces that this will be his final season as host of Inside the NBA.Congrats, EJ 👏 pic.twitter.com/p4mrFwlou4
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