Charles Barkley chokes up as Ernie Johnson's departure leaves future of 'Inside the NBA' in doubt
Barkley initially planed to retire in 2025 but was convinced to come back for two more seasons on ESPN by Johnson.
For the better part of a decade, Charles Barkley has been announcing his retirement from TNT’s beloved Inside the NBA.
“I’m not going to work [expletive] forever,” the Hall of Famer told The Inquirer in 2019. “I don’t want to die on TV” he said on a 2022 conference call.
Could this be the season he finally walks away?
Ernie Johnson, his longtime colleague, announced Wednesday night after 37 years this would be his final season hosting Inside the NBA.
While Johnson, 70, isn’t retiring — he will continue to host TNT’s coverage of March Madness and other events — he’s “cutting back” after some issues with his heart and a desire to spend more time with his family, including the five grandchildren that know him as “Poppy.”
“I just want to slow down a bit and spend more time enjoying that,” Johnson said Wednesday night on ESPN leading into the Sixers game.
Johnson’s announcement led to a wave of reactions across the NBA media world, including ESPN announcer and former La Salle standout Tim Legler, who entered the league the same season Johnson joined Inside the NBA.
“As I got to spent time with Ernie Johnson, let me tell you, everything about you is genuine,” Legler said. “You hear people say all the time, ‘One of the nicest guys in the business.’ It actually really applies to the way you conduct yourself on a daily basis.”
Enter Barkley: The former Sixers great has long said Johnson is the main reason he’s remained with TNT, and has repeatedly said the two are a package deal. Last year, NBC offered him a job that would’ve paid him more than TNT, but Barkley turned it down to remain with Johnson and keep Inside the NBA going on ESPN, which also kept 200 longtime behind-the-scenes colleagues employed.
Barkley didn’t mention anything about his own future Wednesday night, but did choke up while delivering a tribute to his broadcasting mentor and longtime friend.
“We knew the day was coming. It’s still tough,” Barkley said.
Barkley described Johnson as the “unquestionable leader” of a broadcasting team that includes Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith and has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards during it’s multidecade run. While Barkley might be the biggest draw, Johnson has been the engine that keeps it running.
“The question I’m probably asked the most is, is Ernie just as good a person as he seems? And I say, ‘Man, he’s better than that.’” Barkley said. “I just to say thank you.”
Johnson’s departure leaves the future of Inside the NBA in doubt, especially if Barkley sticks to what he told The Ringer’s Bill Simmons in September, saying this is “100%” his last season on the show.
Since losing NBA TV rights in 2024, TNT has a multiyear deal to produce the show for ESPN, according to network sources not authorized to speak publicly. That would suggest the show will continue, even if the personalities behind the desk change.
Among those in line to succeed Johnson is Philly native Adam Lefkoe, who re-signed with TNT in 2025 and currently anchors the network’s college football and basketball coverage. He also worked with Shaq on a now-defunct Tuesday night edition of Inside the NBA on TNT that also featured Dwyane Wade.
While no one can replace Barkley, two names floating around in media circles are current Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green and Jalen Rose, who was laid off by ESPN in 2023 but brought back last season to fill in for Shaq on Inside the NBA.
“I think Draymond would do a good job,” Barkley said on BetMGM Gameday Live earlier this month. “I like Draymond, but Jalen Rose is fantastic.”
The good news is regardless who replaces Johnson and Barkley, Smith and Shaq are likely to be back in whatever future version Inside the NBA takes.
Smith signed a separate multiyear deal with ESPN last year that includes the “The Jet” appearing on shows like First Take and NBA Countdown.
Shaq, who joined Inside the NBA in 2011 after retiring from the NBA, signed a long-term deal with TNT in 2025 reportedly worth $15 million a year, according to Front Office Sports.
“We’re not too worried about what’s going to happen next,” O’Neal said Wednesday night. “What’s happening now is we’re still here, and we’re gonna have a great year.”
