For 37 years, Ernie Johnson has been the face of NBA coverage on TNT, leading fans through unforgettable games, legendary moments, and countless nights of basketball excellence. But as TNT’s NBA era comes to an end, emotions are running high, not just for viewers, but for Johnson himself.

Addressing the moment on-air, Johnson made it clear just how much TNT’s run with the league has meant. “It’s TNT’s last All-Star Game, in what is our last season. We’ve relished every second with this league, and you’re the reason,” he said. “You the players, and you the fans, who watch us night to night. For 40 years, each game, each show has been a sheer delight.”

But as Inside the NBA nears its final stretch on TNT, emotions run high. Speaking on The Draymond Green Show, Johnson got candid about just how tough this transition is.

“The biggest thing about this whole change, look, it’s not easy. This NBA on TNT brand has been around since before you were born, Dray [Draymond Green],” he said.

And it was an incredible journey. “And it was, you know, we’ve had games on TBS or TNT for better than 40 years, and so there have been these moments this year that give you cause for reflection,” he continued. “I mean, I remember being in Boston for opening night and standing there and saying, wow, this is really the last year of the NBA on TNT, and I felt the same thing.”

Looking back, Johnson recalled one of his most cherished moments—the 2003 NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta. It was Michael Jordan’s final appearance, with Kevin Garnett taking home MVP honors.

“It’s a blink. All of a sudden, we’re sitting there in San Francisco and saying, this is the last one. It’s the last one of these All-Star games that we’re going to do. So that part’s been difficult,” he said. But through it all, he finds comfort in one thing—Inside the NBA will remain intact.

Ernie Johnson is happy that Inside the NBA isn’t over

After Turner lost its NBA broadcasting rights, uncertainty loomed over the future of the beloved show. At one point, Charles Barkley even joked about job hunting on LinkedIn, even as Amazon and other networks pursued him. But in a surprising twist, ESPN secured the rights to Inside the NBA after striking a deal with TNT. So while this was their last All-Star Game on TNT, the crew isn’t splitting up just yet.

Next season, when the NBA’s massive $76 billion media deal kicks in, the Inside crew will get something they’ve never had before—a shot at covering the NBA Finals. With ESPN securing the rights, Ernie Johnson shared what that means for their future.

“When you tune into some of these nights on ABC or ESPN, the pregame show is going to be us. We’re going to still be doing it in Atlanta, we’re just not going to be saying the NBA on TNT… To stay together with those guys (and) to stay together with our production crew, that’s really important,” he said on The Draymond Green Show.

So, it looks like the gang will stay together—just on a new network. But is everything set in stone? From what Johnson hinted at, it seems like most of the crew is sticking around. So we can do now is wait for the confirmation.