Inside the NBA will undergo a massive shift after the 2026-27 season as longtime host Ernie Johnson prepares to retire from the program.
Johnson's departure will open up one of the best hosting jobs in sports broadcasting. It's one we imagine will be highly coveted across the industry, even if there is an in-house option that has reps on the show.
Inside the NBA crew gives Ernie Johnson moving tribute on retirement news
We've gone through five options we think could do well in Johnson's seat, even if it's understandably impossible to fully replicate his impact on the show. Let's take a look at who they are and why they'd fit right in.
Adam Lefkoe
The most organic replacement for Johnson in-house is Lefkoe. He has worked as Johnson's understudy on the Tuesday
broadcast, so he's already got a familiarity with the crew. His being promoted would be a smart bet.
Malika Andrews
Andrews is one of ESPN's best NBA broadcasters, and we'd love to see her get an opportunity to host Inside the NBA. She's got the experience and talent to thrive in that role.
Stephen A. Smith
You cannot rule out Smith for this big of a job. Inside the NBA is a hallmark of sports broadcasting, and Smith is one of ESPN's biggest talents. We wouldn't be shocked if the network eyed him as Johnson's replacement.
Taylor Rooks
Rooks is Amazon's lead NBA host, but we do wonder if ESPN would be interested in bringing her over from the streaming giant if she could get out of her contract.
Brian Windhorst
A wild card could be Windhorst, a dynamic broadcasting NBA broadcasting personality who could bring an insider's perspective to the Inside the NBA desk. He's also funny enough to banter with Charles, Kenny and Shaq.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 Ernie Johnson 'Inside the NBA' replacement ideas (Stephen A. Smith?)
