Ernie Johnson to Leave Inside the NBA After 2026-27 Season

Ernie Johnson said the 2026-27 season will be his last hosting Inside the NBA, ending a role he has held since 1990 while continuing other work in sports broadcasting. He said the choice was his and stressed that he is not retiring completely. In a social-media video, Johnson said he plans to keep working on March Madness coverage and other projects for TNT and CBS. He also said he recently started 32 Bowties, a production company focused on sports stories. Johnson described the decision as a step back from the show, not the end of his career. Johnson said he had long taken pride in preparing for each broadcast and had decided it was time to leave when the work became more challenging than enjoyable. He also cited recent health issues as a factor. He underwent heart bypass surgery in 2025, according to reports, though he said he feels well and is not under doctors’ orders to scale back. TNT Sports said it looks forward to working with Johnson on his next chapter at the company. The statement followed his announcement that he would leave the program after the coming season. Johnson began hosting Inside the NBA in 1990, when the show entered its second season. Over the years, he...