Ernie Johnson announced on social media Wednesday that this will be his final season as host of “Inside the NBA.” The 2026-27 season is Johnson’s 37th as host of the popular pre- and post-game show featuring himself, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, which has been a staple of NBA coverage since its debut in 1989.
“This will be my last season,” Johnson said. “Totally my decision. It’s just time. It’s been an honor to share so many nights, decades in fact, with my brothers.”
Although Johnson, 70, is stepping down from his role on “Inside the NBA” after this season, he will still be part of TNT and CBS Sports’ March Madness coverage, he announced in a nearly three-minute video.
“Just to be clear, I’m not retiring,” Johnson said. “Just scaling back. I will continue to do March Madness and other projects for TNT and CBS, and I just started a new production company called 32 Bowties, aimed at telling feel-good stories in sports. So this is by no means the end. It’s just a page turner. I will forever cherish every chapter we’ve written with Inside the NBA.”
Barkley, who is a fixture on “Inside the NBA,” said last month on an episode of “The Bill Simmons Podcast” that this season would also be his last unless Johnson changes his mind about returning beyond this season.
“Ernie and I are a package deal,” Barkley said. “Ernie said to me, ‘Chuck, could you please stay two more years?’ I said, ‘I love you, man. You are the best. I’m going to stay for two more years. So for now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year will be my last year, 100 percent. …If he says he’s done, I’m leaving.
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