Charles Barkley makes definitive Inside the NBA decision tied to Ernie Johnson

Is there a chance that Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley leaves the show? There is a chance, but it is dependent on the host, Ernie Johnson.

Appearing on The Bill Simmons Podcast (via Awful Announcing), Barkley revealed that he was intending to leave Inside the NBA if Johnson does, which it sounds like he is planning to, as they are a “package deal.”

“Me and Ernie are a package deal. So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year 100 percent,” he revealed.

This was a huge development, as it was not known that Johnson, 70, was planning to retire after the 2026-27 season. He explained that the reason he stayed on board for Inside the NBA’s move from TNT to ESPN was to help bridge the two eras together and to help some of the longtime staffers keep their jobs.

For years, Barkley, 63, has talked about retirement. We’ll see if he comes through on his latest comments. He has been on Inside the NBA since 2000, which means he has done the show for longer than his career in the league.

Johnson has been part of the show for even longer. He has been the host of Inside the NBA since 1990, remaining a steady part of the program. Kenny “The Jet” Smith joined in 1998, and Shaquille O’Neal joined in 2011. Johnson, Barkley, Smith, and Shaq have made the show iconic. The likes of Magic Johnson, Reggie Miller, and Chris Webber have also been on the show.

It appears the show could be heading for a reboot of sorts in 2027. We’ll have to wait and see if Johnson responds to Barkley’s latest comments. The statuses of Smith and O’Neal were not discussed by Barkley.

Inside the NBA aired on TNT from 1989 to 2025. Beginning with the 2025-26 regular season, it moved to ESPN as part of the NBA’s latest broadcasting deals.

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