Ernie Johnson says 2026-27 will be his final season hosting 'Inside the NBA'

Ernie Johnson, the longtime host of “Inside the NBA,” announced Wednesday that the 2026-27 season will be his last on the show after 37 seasons. “This will be my last season,” Johnson said in a video posted on social media, according to NBA.com. “Totally my decision. It’s just time.”

He thanked his longtime desk partners: “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.”

Why is Ernie Johnson leaving Inside the NBA?

Johnson said preparation has always been the part of the job he loved most, and he had vowed to step away if it became “more of a challenge than it is a joy.” “I know after 37 seasons, it’s time,” he said in the video, as quoted by NBA.com.

NBA.com also reported that he cited health issues and a desire to spend more time with his family. Other outlets, including Deadline and CBS Sports, reported he referenced heart issues and past bypass surgery and wanting more time with his wife and grandchildren.

Is Ernie Johnson retiring?

No. Johnson said he is not retiring from television. He will continue to work NCAA March Madness and other TNT and CBS projects, and he is launching a production company called 32 Bowties, which NBA.com said will be “geared towards telling feel-good stories in sports.” “This is by no means the end,” he said. “It’s just a turning of the page.”

Ernie Johnson’s career

Johnson started in local news in Georgia before joining TBS in 1989, according to NBA.com. He became the full-time host of “Inside the NBA” in 1990 and built the show into one of the most celebrated studio programs in sports alongside Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal. He is a six-time Emmy Award winner.

How did the NBA react?

“Few people have shaped the way fans experience the NBA as profoundly as Ernie Johnson,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “His brilliance as a broadcaster is matched by his character, compassion and generosity.” Silver said the league looks forward to celebrating Johnson during his final season.

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