Ernie Johnson to Leave Inside the NBA After Season

Ernie Johnson says he isn't finished with broadcasting—but his long run steering Inside the NBA is winding down. The 70-year-old host announced in a video Wednesday that this will be his final season on the studio show, calling the move his choice and "a turning of the page." That will cap his run on the show at 37 years, per the AP. Johnson will keep working college basketball, including the NCAA men's tournament, for CBS and Turner Sports, ESPN reports.

Johnson, who has faced heart issues in recent years, said he wants more time with family and to "slow down a bit." He first anchored Inside the NBA in 1990 and has helped guide it to more than 20 Sports Emmys. ESPN's Jimmy Pitaro praised him as the show's "heart," while colleague Charles Barkley called Johnson the crew's "unquestionable leader" who's even better than his sterling reputation. "I'll forever cherish every chapter we have written with Inside the NBA," Johnson said in the video before thanking viewers, per the Athletic. USA Today suggests five possible successors here.