On Wednesday, Ernie Johnson delivered the news that everyone knew was coming but refused to believe. After 37 years, the beloved host is walking away from Inside the NBA at the end of the 2026-27 NBA season.
“This will be my last season,” Johnson said in his lengthy, sincere announcement video. “Totally my decision. It’s just time.”
To open Wednesday night’s Inside the NBA on ESPN, Johnson recited his statement again, followed by tributes from Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal at the desk. Barkley became particularly emotional. They still have an entire NBA season left together, but it still felt like the end of something.
According to Front Office Sports, however, the show will go on beyond this season.
“ESPN is committed to continuing Inside the NBA even if Johnson, Barkley, or both depart the cast after this season, sources told FOS,” wrote Eli Kronenberg and Michael McCarthy. “ESPN’s own NBA Countdown tried and failed to compete with Inside the NBA for decades, employing dozens of different talents ranging from Magic Johnson and Bill Simmons to Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols.”
“Even if a zombified Inside the NBA show lurches on with a new host and revamped cast, ESPN will try to keep Inside the NBA as its No. 1 NBA studio show, with NBA Countdown as the secondary program,” they added.
Barkley has flirted with retiring from television for years, but with Johnson’s exit now confirmed, it seems more likely.
“Me and Ernie are a package deal, so right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year 100 percent,” Barkley said on The Bill Simmons Podcast in September. Later that month, he repeated his plan to “take a step back from public life” after this NBA season, per WSFA 12 News in Alabama.
On Thursday, Johnson appeared on The Dan Patrick Show and remained tight-lipped about Barkley’s retirement plans. He repeated that sentiment while speaking with Matt Iseman on FOS Tonight on Friday.
“I don’t want to be blamed for ending Inside the NBA.”
Ernie Johnson hopes the show continues on without him after he retires.
New episode drops at 11 p.m. ET on Samsung TV+ or check your local listings. https://t.co/PA3HjQzX8K
— Front Office Sports Tonight (@FOSTonight) October 30, 2026
“I don’t want to be blamed for ending Inside the NBA,” Johnson said. “I’m stepping away from my role on there. I would hope that they could continue the show in some form. And there are plenty of great studio hosts out there who could do what I do.
“As for what Chuck’s gonna do, I have learned many, many moons ago, you never try to predict what the Chuckster is gonna do. But he and I have had a lot of conversations in the past about what we’re gonna do. I will leave that final word up to him.”
Adam Lefkoe has emerged as the favorite of early candidates to act as Johnson’s successor on Inside the NBA.
