Ever since Ernie Johnson announced his intentions to step down as host of ‘Inside The NBA,’ reactions have been coming in from across the NBA world. One of the latest to offer tribute to Johnson was New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown who expressed his thoughts prior to the team’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday, as per SNY Knicks.
“I’d like to give a quick shoutout to Ernie Johnson. I don’t know him well. Obviously I know him from the TV. I try not to watch a lot of basketball shows because it gets me too high or gets me too low. But their show is one that I always get good laughs at,” Brown said. “Just from afar, Ernie seems like he’s a big time human being. And the little bit I know about his story, it’s fascinating. He will be sorely missed, not only from the fans out there and other media members, but I know from a coaching standpoint too in keeping everything light and enjoyable and all that other stuff.
“So I hope you have a heck of a year, Ernie. We’re gonna all miss you, but thanks for doing what you do to make people smile everyday.”
Article Continues BelowErnie Johnson first joined ‘Inside The NBA’ in 1990 and has been at his current position as host since then. The show added Kenny Smith as a permanent panelist in 1998 and then Charles Barkley was brought on board in 2000. Shaquille O’Neal would join the team as the fourth permanent member in 2011.