Ernie Johnson explained: why he is trending

Published 29 October 2026 at 0:15 · 10 sources · 100+ searches today

Ernie Johnson is trending because he has announced that the 2026–27 NBA season will be his final season hosting Inside the NBA. He made the announcement on 28 October 2026 and said the decision was entirely his, after nearly 37 seasons on the show. As of 29 October 2026, the news has drawn wide attention because he is one of the most recognisable faces in basketball television.

Key facts

28 October 2026: Johnson announced his final Inside the NBA season.
He is 70 and has hosted the show for nearly 37 seasons.
He said heart problems and bypass surgery were factors in his decision.
He will keep working on NCAA March Madness and other TNT/CBS projects.

What happened

On 28 October 2026, Ernie Johnson said the 2026–27 NBA season will be his last as host of Inside the NBA. He shared the news in a social-media video and said: “It’s just time.”

The announcement means he is expected to leave the programme after nearly 37 seasons as its presenter. It also affects the long-running studio team with Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, although no reports confirm whether they will also depart.

Why the news matters

Johnson has been the steady anchor of Inside the NBA for almost four decades, and the programme is widely seen as award-winning and culturally influential. That is why his decision has become a major basketball story beyond the United States.

The show also has a different future now that TNT lost its NBA rights after the 2024–25 season. It moved to ESPN and ABC for selected NBA coverage, which has added to the uncertainty around the long-running studio format.

Health, family and next steps

Johnson said ongoing heart problems were part of the reason for stepping back. He said he had bypass surgery about 14 months earlier and was still working towards a fully regular heartbeat.

He also said he wants to slow down and spend more time with his family, including his wife and five grandchildren. He stressed that he is not retiring from television altogether and plans to continue March Madness coverage and other work for TNT and CBS.

What to watch next

As of 29 October 2026, the key question is whether the rest of the Inside the NBA team will remain in place after Johnson’s final season. Reports do not confirm any further departures.

Johnson has also launched a production company called 32 Bowties, aimed at developing positive or feel-good sports stories. That suggests he plans to stay active in sports television even after leaving his full-time hosting role.

Frequently asked

Why is Ernie Johnson trending in the UK today?

He is trending because he announced that the 2026–27 NBA season will be his final season hosting Inside the NBA. The news was made public on 28 October 2026 and has drawn international attention.

Is Ernie Johnson retiring from television?

No. He said he is not retiring from television altogether. He plans to continue work on NCAA March Madness coverage and other projects for TNT and CBS.

Why did Ernie Johnson decide to leave Inside the NBA?

He said the decision was entirely his and that “it’s just time.” He also cited ongoing heart problems, including bypass surgery about 14 months earlier.

Will Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith also leave?

The announcement affects the studio team, but the reports do not confirm whether Barkley, O’Neal or Smith will also depart. Their future has not been confirmed in the available reports.

Sources

Researched automatically from live news and written by Simpledot's AI; facts are limited to what the sources above report as of the published time. Spot an error? Tell us.