Ernie Johnson says this season will be his last hosting Inside the NBA
Johnson says he will step away from the NBA studio show after 37 seasons, citing family time and recent health issues, while continuing other basketball work.
Ernie Johnson said on October 28 that the 2026–27 season will be his last hosting Inside the NBA, ending a run at the desk that began in 1990. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Johnson made the announcement in an Instagram video. His departure will change the presenting lineup of the NBA studio show, which ESPN now airs during selected nights of its coverage.
Johnson called it his own decision. ‘It’s just time,’ he said in the video, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He described hosting as a ‘get to’ job and said he had long vowed to step away if preparing for the show became more of a challenge than a joy. This is his 37th season with the programme.
Why Johnson is leaving the desk
Johnson said recent health issues contributed to his decision, The Hollywood Reporter reported. He had heart bypass surgery in 2025, but said he feels ‘great’ and is under no doctor’s orders to reduce his workload. He also wants more time with his family, including his five grandchildren.
Johnson will continue other basketball work. The Hollywood Reporter said he will remain involved in NCAA basketball coverage on TNT and noted that he has a production company, 32 Bow Ties. TNT Sports said it looked forward to working with him on his next chapter at the company.
What his exit means for Inside the NBA
Johnson joined Inside the NBA as host for its second season in 1990. Kenny Smith became an analyst in 1998, Charles Barkley joined in 2000 and Shaquille O’Neal in 2011. They have been the programme’s familiar studio lineup, making Johnson’s planned exit a change for viewers as well as for the other presenters.
Barkley said in September that he planned to leave the show alongside Johnson after the 2026–27 season, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which attributed his remarks to The Bill Simmons Podcast. No successor to Johnson has been announced.
Inside the NBA aired on TNT through the 2024–25 season. After TNT lost its NBA rights, ESPN began airing the programme on selected nights of its NBA coverage on ESPN and ABC. TNT Sports continues to produce the show and license it to ESPN, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Sources and context
- ‘Inside the NBA’ Host Ernie Johnson Says This Is His Final SeasonThe Hollywood Reporter
- Why Ernie Johnson is stepping away from 'Inside the NBA' after banner runFor The Win (Cory Woodroof), republished by Yahoo Sports
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.