Ernie Johnson to leave Inside the NBA after 2026-27 season
The broadcaster says the upcoming season will be his final one on the show.
Ernie Johnson announced that the 2026-27 season will be his last on Inside the NBA, ending a 37-year run. He will continue hosting March Madness and other projects.
Key takeaways
- Johnson is 70 and a Milwaukee native
- He has spent 37 years on Inside the NBA
- He will keep hosting March Madness
- Charles Barkley has said he will retire when Johnson does
<p>Ernie Johnson has announced that he will step away from Inside the NBA after the 2026-27 season, CBS Sports reported. The Milwaukee native made the announcement on Wednesday, closing out a 37-year run on the broadcast that turned him into one of the most recognizable voices in sports television. Johnson, 70, confirmed that the 2026-27 season, which began last week, marks his 37th year with the show, Hoodline reported.</p>
What Johnson said
<p>Johnson said the decision was entirely his own. As reported by USA Today, he said, "This will be my last season. Totally my decision. " He stressed that he is not retiring from broadcasting completely.
"Just to be clear, I’m not retiring, just cutting back," he said, according to the same USA Today report. </p>
Health and family
<p>Johnson pointed to health challenges as part of his reasoning. "For nearly two years, I’ve dealt with hard issues, had bypass surgery 14 months ago," he said, per USA Today.
He added that his medical team did not tell him to stop working, saying, "I mean, I feel great. </p>
Background and the show’s move
<p>Johnson was born and raised in Milwaukee’s Enderis Park neighborhood until he was 8 years old, according to Radio Milwaukee.
That hometown connection resurfaced in 2019, when Johnson, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal held a barbecue at his childhood home while the crew was in town covering the Milwaukee Bucks playoffs. </p>
What happens next
<p>Inside the NBA moved from TNT to ESPN last season after Turner Sports’ media rights deal with the NBA expired, USA Today reports.
ESPN expanded the show’s regular-season schedule for 2026-27, giving Johnson more desk time than in his first season on the new network, per Awful Announcing. Whether the show continues beyond this season without Johnson is an open question.
Barkley has said he will retire when Johnson does, which Sports Media Watch notes could complicate the programme’s future. </p>
Johnson’s future plans
<p>Johnson is building a production company called 32 Bowties, geared toward telling feel-good stories in sports, according to CBS Sports. He thanked viewers for their loyalty, love and support in his announcement, and praised the production crews who have built the show alongside him, framing the hosting role as what he’s called a get-to job rather than a have-to job.</p>
Related on Apex Sports News
Sources
Topics
Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy or use the flag button above. Our editorial standards explain how we report.
Discussion
Sign in or create a free account to join the discussion. Please follow our community guidelines.