Inside The NBA's Ernie Johnson Confirms Departure From The Show With An Emotional Message

Charles Barkley told Bill Simmons in September that he and Ernie Johnson were "a package deal," and the host's own words on Wednesday show that deal has an end date.

The 70-year-old revealed that his 37th season on Inside the NBA will be his last, in a message that moved quickly from the studio to his family and his heart.

"This will be my last season. Totally my decision. It's just time," Johnson said in a video posted to his social media channel on Wednesday, Oct. 28. He called hosting the show a "get-to job" and said he is still amazed he gets to do it for a living. The announcement comes a week into the 2026-27 season.

Johnson was candid about why now. "I've always prided myself on my preparation, the hours I put in every day getting ready for the next show," he said, adding that he had vowed to step away if that work ever became more of a challenge than a joy.

Then came the personal part. "For nearly two years now, I've dealt with heart issues, had bypass surgery 14 months ago, still trying to get this thing to beat exactly the way it should," he said. He was clear that his doctor had not ordered him to stop. Treasuring time with his wife of 44 years, Cheryl Anne, and his five grandchildren is what pushed him to slow down.

Johnson stressed that he is not leaving television.

"I'm not retiring, just cutting back," he said. He will still be part of TNT and CBS Sports' March Madness coverage. He has also started a production company, 32 Bow Ties, which focuses on feel-good sports stories. "It's just a turning of the page," he said. His exit from the desk is real, but the career isn't ending.

What happens to the show he anchors for the final time is the bigger open question.

Ernie Johnson’s Exit Leaves Charles Barkley and ESPN With a Big Question

Barkley saw this coming. On The Bill Simmons Podcast, he said that unless Johnson changed his mind, next year would be his last year, "100 percent."

Barkley said his main reason for returning was to act as a bridge to the ESPN era and let longtime staff keep their jobs. Johnson's announcement now confirms that timeline for himself. Barkley has not said anything new about his own plans in response to Johnson's video, so his stance rests on what he told Simmons.

The show made its ESPN debut last season and provided pregame and postgame coverage for the NBA Finals for the first time. For 2026-27, ESPN scheduled 25 appearances across ESPN and ABC, with Johnson, Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith together again.

ESPN has given no indication of whether it wants to continue the show without Johnson. The idea of Inside the NBA without its host and the analyst who said he would leave with him is something the network will have to address.

Johnson's place in the show's history explains the weight. He joined Turner Sports in 1989 and has hosted Inside the NBA since 1990. The show has won 21 Sports Emmys since it launched.

He won best studio host at this year's awards. When the show left TNT, Johnson told viewers there was "no time for bitterness" and that it was time to be grateful.

Johnson is stepping back on his own terms, for his health and his family, and he plans to stay on air elsewhere. Barkley's promise to leave with him puts the show's future in ESPN's hands.

Johnson closed his message with thanks to viewers, "for your understanding," and said he'd see them on TV that night. For now, fans will have to settle for a full season of him doing exactly that.