Ernie Johnson dropped a bombshell on Wednesday, announcing this season will be his final one hosting “Inside the NBA,” and the news hit everyone hard. Nobody felt it more keenly than Charles Barkley, who delivered a truly emotional farewell on the show that night. Barkley has been with Johnson on “Inside the NBA” since 2000, and he’s famously stated in the past he would only do the show if Johnson was the host. That makes this decision huge, not just for Johnson, but for the whole legendary panel.
Barkley’s Raw Speech Stole the Show
“Inside the NBA” was on ESPN Wednesday night to kick off the night’s basketball games, but before any action started, Barkley’s speech became the real highlight. You could feel the weight of the moment. Barkley opened by saying, “We knew today was coming, it was still tough,” acknowledging the difficult reality. He told Johnson it had “been an honor and a privilege to work with you all this time.”
Barkley truly wanted to make sure Johnson heard his “thank you,” reflecting on their nearly three decades together. Beyond their on-screen chemistry, Barkley spoke to Johnson’s character off camera, too. “The question I’m probably asked the most is, ‘Is Ernie Johnson as good a person as he seems?’ I say, ‘Man, he’s better than that.’” That’s high praise. He wrapped up that part by saying, “I just want to say thank you for being our leader for all these years.” Barkley even gave Johnson credit for guiding him through his second career, saying, “It’s been an amazing journey. You’ve been our leader, our unquestionable leader.” It really hit home how much Johnson means to him, and to the show.
Johnson’s Farewell Season And A Legendary Run
Johnson confirmed his departure after the 2026-27 season, making it clear he’s stepping away on his own terms. He said, “This will be my last season. Totally my decision. It’s just time.” Johnson has been the host of “Inside the NBA” since the 1990-91 season, a mind-blowing 37 seasons at the desk! Most of those years were with Turner, but he moved with the show to ESPN last year after TNT lost its NBA broadcast rights. He’ll get to host one final season, giving fans a chance to soak it all in.
What does this mean for “Inside the NBA” moving forward, especially with Barkley’s past comments about only doing the show with Johnson? It’s the first week of the NBA season, and the biggest story is already about what happens off the court. The league is absolutely buzzing about what’s next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply