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 is be