You can hire another host for Inside the NBA. Good luck hiring another Ernie Johnson.
After 37 seasons, Ernie announced Wednesday that this will be his last on the show. Charles Barkley was fighting back tears talking about him and called him their “unquestionable leader.” And if you’ve ever watched Inside the NBA, you know EXACTLY what he means.
Chuck starts roasting somebody, Shaq’s laughing his ass off, Kenny’s trying to make an actual basketball point.. and Ernie somehow knows exactly when to step in.
He can be the adult in the room without sucking all the fun out of it. He’ll jump in with his own jokes, let the guys go completely off the rails, and then somehow get everybody back to talking basketball.
That’s why the show feels like four friends hanging out instead of four television personalities fighting for airtime.
Something Ernie said in his announcement really stood out to me. He talked about the HOURS he’s spent preparing for every show and how that part of the job has finally started feeling more challenging than enjoyable.
Think about that.. the guy who made live television look so effortless was working his ass off behind the scenes to make it feel that way.
He’s not disappearing from broadcasting. We’ll still see him during March Madness, and I’m glad we’re getting one more season of Inside with him.
Because whoever takes that chair next isn’t just being asked to introduce highlights. They’re being asked to keep up with Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal without becoming another Charles Barkley or Shaquille O’Neal.
Good luck with THAT job.
