Ernie Johnson to end 37-year run hosting Inside the NBA this June
The broadcaster plans to step down after the season, citing age and a recent heart bypass surgery, though he will remain with TNT Sports for college basketball.
By Giulia Gallagher ·
Ernie Johnson will retire as the host of “Inside the NBA” in June, ending a 37-year tenure on the studio program. The decision concludes a career that spans the show’s original run on TNT and TBS beginning in 1990, as well as its move to ESPN last year.
Johnson announced the news on Wednesday in a video posted to social media. He described the choice as his own, stating that after turning 70 this past summer, he realized the daily preparation required for the show had become more of a challenge than a joy.
The broadcaster said he had been managing heart issues for the past two years and underwent bypass surgery last August. He stated that he intends to slow down to spend more time with his family. The final episode will air during the NBA Finals, a slot the show secured for the first time last season when it moved to ESPN and ABC.
The current panel includes Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal. Smith joined the cast full-time in 1998, Barkley arrived in 2000, and O’Neal took his seat in 2011. Together, the four men have helped the program win 21 Sports Emmy Awards and establish a standard for sports studio shows.
TNT Sports, which continues to produce the show despite its broadcast move to ESPN, said in a statement that Johnson is a legend and the heart of the network. The company said it looks forward to partnering with him on his next chapter at TNT Sports. Johnson noted that the transition to ESPN allowed the team to keep their creative freedom while gaining access to ESPN’s pregame resources and reporters.
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro called Johnson one of sports media’s most respected figures in a statement. Pitaro said the network is grateful for Johnson’s contributions over more than three decades and plans to celebrate him throughout the season.
Johnson will not leave sports broadcasting entirely. He will continue to host NCAA Tournament coverage on TNT and CBS. He also launched a new production company called 32 Bow Ties, a name referencing his preferred style of neckwear. He described his departure from “Inside the NBA” as a turning of the page rather than an end.
Source: The Aegis
