It's become apparent that Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson is going all out for his final season on the show, as he rapped DMX's “Party Up” in a new spot for the ESPN program.
The new commercial begins with Johnson getting ready, tying one of his bow ties, while listening to “Party Up.” He can't help but sing along, “Y'all gonna make me lose my mind / Up in here, up in here / Y'all gonna make me go all out / Up in here, up in here / Y'all gonna make me act a fool.”
really gonna miss EJ on Inside 😭pic.twitter.com/6JijCX3rz7
— Oh No He Didn't 🤯 (@ohnohedidnt24) November 5, 2026
This might be one of the last things you'd expect to see Johnson doing, but we should all be grateful he did. It's a hilarious commercial.
Ernie Johnson's last season on Inside the NBA
This will be Johnson's last season on Inside the NBA. Luckily, the 2026-27 NBA season will continue until June 2027, so fans have several months to prepare for his departure.
Johnson began hosting the iconic basketball show in 1990. Kenny “The Jet” Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O'Neal have been the trio of analysts since 2011.
Article Continues BelowIt has been a great run, but Johnson, 70, is ready to let it go. He will be leaving the show after 36 years, but he's not fully retiring. He explained that he was always going to step away once the “preparation” became “more of a challenge than it is a joy.”
He's also dealt with some heart issues recently, and while doctors haven't requested he stop working, he wants to “slow down a bit” and enjoy time with his family.
Luckily, he will still be involved with sports. Johnson is going to be covering March Madness in 2027 and is working on other projects through his production banner, 32 Bowties. His production company is “geared toward telling feel-good stories in sports.”