Ernie Johnson to Host 'Inside the NBA' for Final Season

Ernie Johnson will leave his role as host of 'Inside the NBA' after the upcoming season, ending a 36-year run on the program. The announcement came via a social media post on Wednesday. Johnson, who is 70, said he is stepping back from the show to reduce his workload and prioritize his health.

Johnson stated that he has experienced heart issues in recent years. Although he described his current health as good, he said he wants to slow down. "It's just time," Johnson said in the post. He clarified that he is not retiring from sports media entirely. "Just to be clear, I'm not retiring. Just cutting back," he wrote. "So this is by no means the end. It's just a turning of the page."

Johnson will remain active in broadcasting. He plans to cover the NCAA men's basketball tournament for CBS and Turner Sports. His career in television spans more than 50 years. He began as a news anchor in 1979. He joined Turner Sports in 1989 and started hosting 'Inside the NBA' in 1990.

His co-hosts reacted to the news during Wednesday night's broadcast. Charles Barkley called Johnson the show's leader. "You've been our unquestionable leader," Barkley said. "The question I'm probably asked the most is: Is Ernie Johnson as good as a person as he seems? And I say, man, he's better than that." Barkley added that the news is still difficult despite being an expected development.

Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN, released a statement honoring Johnson's tenure. Pitaro described Johnson as one of the most respected figures in sports media. "For more than three decades, he has been the heart of 'Inside the NBA,' helping create one of the most iconic and entertaining studio shows in sports," Pitaro said. The network expressed gratitude for Johnson's contributions and planned to celebrate him during the season.

Barkley also announced during the broadcast that this would be his final season on the show. He has previously indicated the season might be his last but returned to the set. The show will continue with its current format for the remainder of the season, with Johnson leading the final episodes.

Johnson has hosted the program alongside a rotating cast of analysts, a lineup that recently stabilized with Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal. The show is a staple of NBA coverage and has maintained a consistent audience for over three decades. Johnson's departure marks the end of an era for the specific configuration of the show's studio analysis.