Ernie Johnson to leave ‘Inside the NBA’ after 2026-27 season

Beloved broadcaster Ernie Johnson will step down as host of “Inside the NBA” following the 2026-27 season.

“It’s just time,” Johnson, 70, said Wednesday in a video posted to social media.

Johnson made it clear in his message that he was not pushed out of the role, nor retiring but just “just cutting back” — and that he would continue to work, most notably on CBS and Turner Sports’ coverage of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductee also cited heart issues in recent years as a factor in his decision.

“This is by no means the end,” Johnson said. “It’s just a turning of the page. And I’ll forever cherish every chapter we have written with ’Inside the NBA.”

Johnson is in his 37th season as host of “Inside the NBA,” the popular pre- and post-game show also featuring retired NBA players Shaquille O’Neal (who joined in 2011), Charles Barkley (2000) and Kenny Smith (1998). The show, which moved from TNT to ESPN and ABC last season, has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards.

Barkley said in September that he is expected the 2026-27 NBA season to be his last on the show.

“Ernie Johnson is one of sports media’s most respected and beloved figures,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “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. We are grateful for Ernie’s extraordinary contributions and look forward to celebrating him throughout the season.”