Ernie Johnson Announces Retirement Plans in Video After Iconic Broadcasting Career with TNT Sports

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Legendary broadcaster Ernie Johnson announced Wednesday he's stepping away from Inside the NBA after the 2026-27 season.

"Just to be clear, I'm not retiring," Johnson said. "Just cutting back. I'll still do March Madness and other projects for TNT and CBS, and I've just started a new production company called 32 Bowties geared toward telling feel-good stories in sports. So this is by no means the end. It's just a turning of the page."

Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal gave their emotional reaction to the news on Wednesday's show.

Additionally, NBA commissioner Adam Silver commended Johnson for his "brilliance as a broadcaster" in a statement.

"Few people have shaped the way fans experience the NBA as profoundly as Ernie Johnson," Silver said. "His brilliance as a broadcaster is matched by his character, compassion and generosity, which have been evident throughout his 37 years as host of 'Inside the NBA.' We are grateful for Ernie's extraordinary impact on our league and look forward to celebrating him during his final season."

Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Dončić was also among the many NBA players and athletes to react to the news:

Johnson has worked in the media since 1979. The 70-year-old first joined Turner Sports in 1989 and went on to contribute to coverage for some of the biggest events in sports including Wimbledon, the Winter Olympics, FIFA World Cup, and the MLB and NBA playoffs.

Johnson is a six-time Sports Emmy Award winner and entered the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2023.

Hosting Inside the NBA is Johnson's most enduring role and the one for which he's most synonymous. He has deftly played the straight man alongside Smith and Hall of Famers Barkley and O'Neal.

Ask any NBA fan and they're likely to have a go-to Inside clip they often return to.

Maybe it was O'Neal and Barkley's incredulous reaction to reports of a "police presence" during a 2018 altercation between members of the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers.

There was the time when not even Johnson could keep a straight face as an increasingly frustrated O'Neal vented about Barkley eating into his TV time.

And the quartet still have their fastball. Last week provided perhaps the best "Who He Play For!?" segment of all time as Barkley struggled to name the correct teams for some NBA journeymen.

The show has maintained the same identity following its move from TNT to ESPN. Soon, it will truly be embarking on a new era with Johnson stepping away.