Ernie Johnson to retire from ‘Inside the NBA’ in June after a 37-year run as host

Ernie Johnson will retire as host of “Inside the NBA” in June, capping a 37-year run with the popular studio show. Johnson announced his decision on Wednesday, saying, “It s just time,” and that the decision was his alone. “As the years have gone by and I turned 70 this past summer, folks have asked me, ‘So, how long are you going to keep doing ‘Inside? This will be my last season,” he said in a video posted on social media. Johnson also led off Wednesday s edition of “NBA Tip Off” on ESPN by informing viewers of his decision. Johnson began on “Inside the NBA” in 1990 when it was on TNT and TBS; the show moved to ESPN last year. The quartet of Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O Neal has made the program — which has won 21 Sports Emmy Awards — a model for other studio shows. “Ernie Johnson has been and always will be the heart and soul of TNT Sports. He’s a legend in every sense — as a broadcaster and iconic host of ‘Inside the NBA’ to being a world-class person who