Charles Barkley has worked alongside on ‘Inside the NBA’ with Ernie Johnson since he joined in 2000, 10 years after Johnson started on the show. Those two with Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith have made it as popular as sports show as there is on telelvison.
On Wednesday, Johnson announced on social media that this season would be his final one as the host of the show. Before the games started on Wednesday night, Barkley became emotional on the show, giving Johnson credit for being the leader of the show.
“That was tough,” Barkley said. “We knew the day was coming, but it is still tough. I have been here 26, 27 years, and it has been an honor and a privilege to work with you. Nothing like it. It has been an amazing journey. You have been our unquestioned leader. The question I am probably asked the most is, ‘Is Ernie Johnson as good a person as he seems? He’s better than that. I just want to say thank you for being our leader all these years.”
While Johnson will be done with Inside the NBA after this season, he won’t be completely retired. He said that he will still do March Madness coverage among other things, but that now is as good of time as there is to end it.
Barkley has been very vocal over the past couple of years that when Johnson retires, he will also be done. Inside the NBA has provided fans with some hilarious moments over the years, and these last months of the show with these four promise to provide a few more.
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