Some people are simply irreplaceable. For basketball fans, Ernie Johnson is one of those people.
The legendary broadcaster and longtime host of “Inside the NBA” announced Wednesday that he would be leaving the beloved basketball program after the current season, ESPN reported.
Johnson, 70, explained his decision in a social media video, telling fans that “it’s just time” to move on from the show he has hosted for more than three decades.
Thankfully, Johnson isn’t retiring from broadcasting altogether.
“Just to be clear, I’m not retiring,” Johnson said. “Just cutting back… So this is by no means the end. It’s just a turning of the page. And I’ll forever cherish every chapter we have written with ‘Inside the NBA.’”
Johnson also acknowledged dealing with heart issues in recent years, explaining that those health concerns have helped him appreciate the importance of spending time with his family.
“I just want to slow down a bit,” he said.
And who could possibly begrudge the man that? After spending decades entertaining basketball fans, Johnson has more than earned the opportunity to enjoy some well-deserved family time.
Still, it’s difficult to overstate just how much “Inside the NBA” will lose without him.
Johnson has been the steady hand guiding the famously unpredictable quartet of himself, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal. While the three former NBA stars provide plenty of laughs, arguments, and occasional nonsense, Johnson has always been the glue holding everything together.
But Johnson’s contributions extend well beyond basketball analysis and keeping Barkley from saying something outrageous on national television.
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He’s also been an unapologetic Christian who has used his enormous platform to honor God, even when discussing subjects as politically sensitive as President Donald Trump.
In one particularly memorable clip, Johnson explained his perspective on presidential elections and the importance of maintaining his Christian convictions regardless of who occupies the White House.
“From one election to the next, I don’t know who’s gonna be in the Oval Office, but I always know who’s on the throne,” Johnson said. “I’m a Christian.”
He added, “Scripture tells us to pray for our leaders. I’m gonna pray for Donald Trump.”
You can view the video for yourself below, courtesy of Christian sports pundit Jon Root.
Now, if you read between the lines, Johnson didn’t exactly sound like he was preparing to put on a MAGA hat. But that’s precisely what makes his response so refreshing.
At a time when political disagreements routinely devolve into personal attacks, Johnson chose something different. Rather than using his platform to score cheap political points, he used it to remind viewers of something infinitely more important than partisan politics: God remains sovereign, regardless of who’s in charge.
That’s a powerful message, particularly in a sports media environment where political commentary can sometimes overshadow the sports themselves.
And it’s one reason Johnson’s departure will sting so much. Sports television doesn’t exactly have an abundance of prominent Christian men willing to speak openly about their faith without turning every disagreement into a political crusade.
Barkley, who has also indicated that this could be his final season on the program, offered an emotional tribute Wednesday night.
“You’ve been our unquestionable leader,” Barkley said, adding that when people ask whether Johnson is as good a person as he seems, his answer is simple: “Man, he’s better than that.”
That’s quite a compliment coming from someone who has spent decades working alongside him.
As a longtime fan of “Inside the NBA,” I find it difficult to imagine the show without Johnson, let alone without both Johnson and Barkley. Their chemistry helped turn what could have been another forgettable basketball studio program into must-watch television.
But beyond the laughs, the basketball discussions, and the unforgettable moments, Johnson leaves behind an example worth celebrating.
He showed that you can be a respected professional, an entertaining television personality, and a man of sincere Christian faith without compromising any of those identities.
There will be other broadcasters. There will be other basketball shows. There will certainly be other people willing to argue about the NBA on television.
But there will only ever be one Ernie Johnson.
And sports television will be poorer without him.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal and is reposted with permission.
