By Salma El-Sakka
Ernie Johnson, the longtime host of "Inside the NBA," announced Wednesday that the current season will be his last, ending a 37-year run as one of basketball's most recognizable voices.
At age 70, Johnson said the daily preparation for the show had become "more of a challenge than it is a joy," prompting his decision to step away. He has battled heart disease for at least two years, underwent bypass surgery 14 months ago, and previously survived non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2003 and prostate cancer in 2019.
Johnson began his tenure on the program in 1990 on TNT and TBS before the show moved to ESPN last year. He thanked production crews and co-hosts Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley, calling the job a "get-to" position.
Barkley Reacts to Departure
Barkley, who has worked alongside Johnson for 26 or 27 years, appeared emotional on ESPN's "NBA Tip Off," describing Johnson as "better than" the good person he seems on television. Barkley has previously called the two a "package deal," raising questions about his own broadcasting future.
The quartet of Johnson, Barkley, Smith, and O'Neal became a cultural touchstone, blending analysis with humor. Smith joined full-time in 1998, Barkley in 2000, and O'Neal in 2011.
