Inside the NBA has been a staple program since 1989 on TNT Sports, featuring its award-winning quartet of Ernie Johnson, Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal. Now, with the league set to embark on an 11-year media rights agreement with The Walt Disney Company, Comcast, and Amazon, the program will continue to be produced by TNT Sports in Atlanta with the same team of personnel.
Although the network where fans can watch the show may change, host Ernie Johnson is pleased that its production will remain in his longtime home of Atlanta, GA. Recently, Johnson joined The Dan Patrick Show and was asked about his future with the program, as well as whether he would continue if it were to relocate.
“No, that’s home,” said Johnson when asked if he would stay with Inside the NBA if it moved out of Atlanta. “There is a lot of things to do out there. I can’t wait to stay with the guys, and then we’ll see for the years after that. What comes up and what I feel like doing.”
Johnson has been with TNT Sports since 1989, dating back to the inception of Inside the NBA. However, in his conversation with Dan Patrick, he acknowledged that he does see his career winding down at some point in the near future.
“Don’t get this twisted. It’s not like, I’m going to hang it up here, and suddenly I have retired,” said Johnson. “When you’re running a marathon, you can see the finish line from a long way away. Not that I have any marathon experience. So, it’s not like I’m in this sprint, and the finish line is eight meters away. When you get to this point, it’s like, alright, let’s see how this is looking.”
Currently, Johnson is also serving as part of CBS Sports and TNT Sports’ coverage of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, working alongside Barkley, Smith, and CBS Sports college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg. He expressed how much he enjoys the opportunity to collaborate once again with CBS Sports on the tournament broadcast.
Beyond that, Johnson also reflected on how much the media landscape has evolved, particularly with social media allowing instant feedback on-air performances.
“Everything is so instantaneous,” said Johnson. “You throw a line out there, and all of a sudden, you’re getting skewered, or you’re getting praised. It’s just a different world, but you don’t do it for the likes you get, or anything like that. You just doing your job.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
