Ernie Johnson confirms this will be the final year he hosts 'Inside the NBA,' Charles Barkley has emotional response

Ernie Johnson has announced that he will step down as host of "Inside the NBA" after the 2026-2027 NBA season.

Johnson, 70, said the decision came down to the fact that he used to pride himself on the preparation he put into the show, but if that prep work ever felt like a challenge instead of a joy, he would know he needed to step away.

The "Inside the NBA" host also said that he has been dealing with heart issues for the last two years. Johnson mentioned he had bypass surgery 14 months ago, and he is still "trying to get this thing to beat exactly the way it should."

Johnson says he feels great, but that going through the bypass process has made him cherish the time with his wife and family even more.

"I just want to slow down a bit, spend more time enjoying that. This is by no means the end; it's just a turning of the page."

The host does specify, "Just to be clear, I'm not retiring, just cutting back. I'll still do other projects for March Madness and TNT and CBS."

Johnson mentioned that he recently started a new production company called "32 Bowties," which he hopes will let him tell feel-good sports stories.

Last month, "Inside the NBA" analyst Charles Barkley appeared on an episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast" and said he and Johnson had agreed to stay on the show for two years. That would have been last season and then this 2026-2027 season.

"Me and Ernie are a package deal," Barkley said. "Ernie said to me, 'Chuck, would you please stay for two more years?' I said, 'I love you, man. You're the best. I'll stay for two more years.' So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year, 100 percent. … If he says he's done, I'm gone."

On Wednesday night's episode of "NBA Tip-Off" (ESPN's renamed version of the show), Johnson reiterated that he is done after this season. The camera cut to an emotional Barkley, who struggled at first to find the words to speak about his friend, but gave a touching tribute.

Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal also paid tribute to Johnson, reflecting on what he has meant to them over the years.

TNT Sports posted a tribute to Johnson and said it looks forward to partnering with him in the future.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also posted a message honoring Johnson.

"Few people have shaped the way fans experience the NBA as profoundly as Ernie Johnson. His brilliance as a broadcaster is matched by his character, compassion and generosity, which have been evident throughout his 37 years as host of 'Inside the NBA.' We are grateful for Ernie's extraordinary impact on our league and look forward to celebrating him during his final season."

"Inside the NBA" began in 1989, and Johnson joined as the full-time host the following year. He has headlined the show since 1990 and stayed with it even as it switched from a TNT product to ESPN last year.