Image: Nathaniel S. Butler

Ernie Johnson announced Wednesday that he is stepping away from Inside the NBA after the 2026-27 season.

 

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Johnson made it clear he is not retiring, saying he is just cutting back his schedule and turning the page.

He will continue to cover March Madness for TNT and CBS, and recently launched a production company called 32 Bowties to tell feel-good sports stories.

The 70-year-old has worked in media since 1979, and joined Turner Sports in 1989 to cover major events like Wimbledon, the Olympics, and the World Cup.

Along the way, he won 6 Sports Emmy Awards and entered the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2023.

However, Johnson is best known for his enduring role as the straight man on Inside the NBA alongside Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal.