What Ernie Johnson’s ‘Inside the NBA’ retirement means for Charles Barkley

Ernie Johnson’s time as the host of the beloved “Inside the NBA” is coming to an end. But now all eyes are on the rest of the panel — and what Johnson’s departure means for the future of the show.

Johnson, 70, announced Wednesday that he’ll be leaving the show following this season, 37 years after joining the program in 1990. His exit will create a void on the panel of the long-running show that has aired on both TNT and ESPN. Whether the show lives on in the same shape or form remains to be seen, but, unless something changes, at least one talking head — Charles Barkley — will be leaving with Johnson after this season.

Barkley previously announced that the 2024-25 season would be his last on the NBA show, but has continued on as it shifted to the Worldwide Leader last year.

But during an appearance on The Ringer’s “The Bill Simmons Podcast” at the end of the summer, Barkley indicated that he’d not only be done as a panelist but that he and Johnson were a “package deal.”

“Me and Ernie are a package deal,” Barkley told Simmons. “So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year, 100 percent.”

Barkley then recalled in his conversation with Simmons that the folks at TNT asked him to stay two more years — before the network would lose the rights to the NBA. ESPN has broadcast it now for the last two years, keeping Johnson, Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith together.

“The only reason I stayed is so everybody could keep their job behind the scenes,” Barkley explained.

Barkley got emotional addressing Johnson during the show on Wednesday night, thanking him for being their “unquestionable leader” and noting how tough the day was, even when they knew it was coming.

Barkley also joined “Post Moves with Candace Parker & Aliyah Boston” for a podcast episode that went up Wednesday, shortly before Johnson announced his imminent exit from the show.

“It’s been an honor to work with Ernie, Kenny and Shaq,” Barkley said. “We’ve got the best crew in the business. We’re all waiting on Ernie to make a decision — he’s the godfather. I’ll have nothing but love and admiration and respect for that guy.”

What the show will look like in the future beyond this season remains unclear. What is clear is that “Inside the NBA” is slated to air for Wednesday’s slate of games and will continue through the playoffs.