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Ernie Johnson Says 2026-27 Will Be His Final Season Hosting Inside the NBA

Ernie Johnson announced Wednesday that the 2026-27 season will be his last hosting "Inside the NBA," his 37th year on the show. Johnson, 70, said the choice was his own, cited heart surgery last year and said he plans to keep working on other broadcasts.

By admin Oct. 28, 2026 · 4:44 PM ET 2 min read

Two television cameras pointed at an empty curved studio desk under warm studio lights
Two television cameras pointed at an empty curved studio desk under warm studio lights

Ernie Johnson announced Wednesday, Oct. 28, in a video message that the 2026-27 season will be his last hosting “Inside the NBA.” The season began last week and is his 37th year hosting the show, which he presents with Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal.

An empty basketball court with wooden flooring and rows of dark blue seats in an arena

“This will be my last season. Totally my decision. It’s just time,” Johnson said. He turned 70 this past summer and said he has long described the job as a “get to job,” adding that he is still amazed he gets to do it for a living.

Health and family played a part

Johnson said heart trouble was a contributing factor. He said he has dealt with heart issues for nearly two years and had bypass surgery 14 months ago. He said he feels great and that his doctor did not tell him to stop working, but that the experience made him want more time with his wife of 44 years, Cheryl, and with his five grandchildren.

“So, I just want to slow down a bit and spend more time enjoying that,” he said.

He plans to keep working

Johnson said he is cutting back on his workload rather than leaving broadcasting. He said he will still host March Madness and other projects for TNT and CBS, and that he has started a production company, 32 Bowties, that will tell feel-good stories in sports.

A crowded basketball arena seen from the stands during a night game

He also pointed to the daily preparation the job demands. Johnson said he has always prided himself on the hours he puts in getting ready for each show, and that the work has become more of a challenge than a joy. “And now after 37 seasons, it’s time,” he said.

A person wearing a headset seen from behind in a television control room with rows of monitors

The show moved last season from TNT to ESPN after Turner Sports’ media rights deal with the NBA expired. Johnson is a six-time Sports Emmy Award winner, and USA Today reports the show has won 21 Sports Emmys since it launched.

What happens to the rest of the desk

What happens next for Barkley, O’Neal and Smith is unclear, according to USA Today, and there have been no definitive statements about their futures. Barkley said in an episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast” published in September that he and Johnson were a “package deal,” and that Johnson had asked him to stay for two more years.

“So, right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year, 100 percent,” Barkley said in that podcast episode. Barkley has been with the show since October 2000. Johnson closed his announcement by thanking his co-hosts, the production crews and the leadership at TNT and ESPN for allowing the show to continue.

Reporting based on coverage by USA Today and the New York Post.

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