‘Inside The NBA’ Crew Pays Tearjerking Tribute After Ernie Johnson Announces Retirement

The end of a long-standing 37-year career wasn’t supposed to be easy. But this Wednesday, when it finally came to that for thehost of Inside the NBA, Ernie Johnson, as he announced the 2026-27 campaign to be his last, NBA icons Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal found saying goodbye was harder than they imagined it’d be.

“That was tough. We knew the day was coming; it's still tough," Barkley said, barely able to hold his tears back. "... It's been an amazing journey. You've been our leader, unquestionable leader ... The question I'm asked the most is, 'Is Ernie Johnson as good a person as he seems?' And I say, 'Man, he's better than that … All I can say, Ernie, is a thank you.”

Johnson’s initial announcement came earlier through a social media post. However, the 70-year-old host reiterated it on that night’s broadcast for those who missed it. After briefly explaining what this job has meant to him over the years, Johnson clarified his reasons behind this tough decision.

“You know I've been hosting this show, 'Inside the NBA', for a long time. This is my 37th year," Johnson said. "I'm still amazed that I get to do this for a living. As the years have gone by, I turned 70 this past summer, folks have asked me, 'So how long you gonna keep on doing "Inside?"' And the short answer is this will be my last season … I've always loved that part of my job. But I've always vowed that if that ever became more of a challenge than it is a joy, then I'll know it's time to step away."

The “challenging” part is being 70 with a bypass surgery done only 14 months before, which makes one cherish a slow-paced life with family more than ever. Although he assured that he plans to commit to March Madness and other projects at TNT and CBS, it was Smith’s turn to give Johnson the flowers after a 28-season camaraderie.

“It feels the same way when I walked into the Rockets locker room for the first time … (and felt) like I could win a championship,” the 2x NBA champion stated. “Your energy made me feel that way, and I didn't even know what an Emmy was at that time ... And here we are as a group, 40 to 50 Emmys deep in all different categories, championship, and that was because of you, brother."

Then, it was O’Neal’s time to voice out his feelings. The Diesel started with an honest admission that, growing up as a basketball-loving kid, Johnson was one of the three commentators he’d only listen to, apart from Bill Raftery and Dick Vitale.

"I only came here because you were here," he said. "You are the controller of this thing people call a circus … without you, it's going to be very, very difficult … All we can say is thank you, and we appreciate you. We're going to miss you, and we'll see you around, but thanks for the great run. I never thought this day would happen. I didn't even know you were 70. It makes sense now.”

But amid these heartbreaking yet wholesome admissions, the show, league and teams will march forward towards a season that has already started getting heated. And finally, Johnson will have the luxury of watching the games for the fun of it rather than dissecting them for us like he did for the last 37 years.