Ernie Johnson says next season will be his last on Inside the NBA

Ernie Johnson's last season as host

Ernie Johnson announced Wednesday that the 2026-27 season will be his last as the full-time host of Inside the NBA. He made clear on video that he is not retiring, just cutting back, and that he plans to keep doing March Madness and other work for TNT and CBS. Johnson said he also started a new production company, 32 Bowties, built around feel-good sports stories. "After 37 seasons, it's time," he said.

Johnson is 70 years old and has hosted Inside the NBA since 1990, a year after the show launched in 1989. He stayed with the show through its move from TNT to ESPN last year, working alongside Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal the whole way.

Health was part of the call

Johnson told Yahoo Sports the decision came down to whether the prep work for each show still felt like a joy or had turned into a challenge. He also said he has dealt with heart issues the last two years and had bypass surgery 14 months ago. He said he feels great but is still working on getting his heart to beat exactly the way it should.

Johnson said going through the bypass process made him want to slow down and spend more time with his wife and family. "I just want to slow down a bit," he said. He again said stepping back from the nightly hosting job is not the end of his broadcasting work, calling it "a turning of the page."

What happens to the rest of the crew

Charles Barkley said last month on The Bill Simmons Podcast that he and Johnson had agreed to stick around for two more seasons together, this one included. Barkley said "Me and Ernie are a package deal" and that he would be gone too if Johnson steps away. Based on what Barkley said at the time, this could end up being his final season on the show as well.

Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith remain part of the regular rotation and are set to join Johnson and Barkley for their Wednesday night doubleheader program.

A resume that goes well beyond the NBA

Johnson has worked in media since 1979 and joined Turner Sports in 1989. Beyond Inside the NBA, he has covered Wimbledon, the Winter Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, and MLB and NBA playoff games. He is a six-time Sports Emmy Award winner and was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2023.

Facts per Bleacher Report, Yahoo Sports. Opinion is the taproom's.