Ernie Johnson leaving 'Inside the NBA' after season: 'It's just time'

Ernie Johnson says this is his final season as 'Inside the NBA' host

• ESPN

Oct 28, 2026, 02:51 PM ET

Sports Broadcasting Hall of Famer Ernie Johnson will retire as host of "Inside the NBA" after the season, saying in a social media video Wednesday that it was his decision to step away and that "it's just time."

Johnson said he would continue to work, including coverage of the NCAA men's basketball tournament for CBS and Turner Sports.

"Just to be clear, I'm not retiring," Johnson said. "Just cutting back. ... So this is by no means the end. It's just a turning of the page. And I'll forever cherish every chapter we have written with 'Inside the NBA.'"

Johnson acknowledged that he has dealt with heart issues in recent years. He said he was doing well but that the health matters helped him realize the importance of time with family, adding "I just want to slow down a bit."

Johnson, 70, has worked for Turner Sports since 1989 and began hosting "Inside the NBA" a year later. The show -- led by its current quartet of Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal -- has won more than 20 Sports Emmy Awards over the decades. The show transitioned from TNT Sports to ESPN and ABC starting last season.

Along with Johnson's announcement, Charles Barkley has previously said this will also be his final season on "Inside the NBA," though the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer has changed his mind and returned to the desk in previous years.

The third edition of "Inside the NBA" on ESPN will be held Wednesday, when the Indiana Pacers host the Philadelphia 76ers (7 p.m. ET) and the Oklahoma City Thunder play at Dallas Mavericks. The show is set for 25 regular-season appearances in 2026-27 along with the playoffs through the NBA Finals.