Ernie Johnson still deciding whether to retire from ‘Inside the NBA’

Charles Barkley may have gotten a little ahead of Ernie Johnson.

Despite Barkley’s recent declaration that the upcoming season would be the last for both men on “Inside the NBA,” Johnson has not settled his retirement plans, according to Front Office Sports⁠.

“Me and Ernie are a package deal,” Barkley said during an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast. “So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind, next year is my last year 100 percent.”

That comment made it sound as if Johnson had already decided. Apparently, he has not.

Johnson, 70, has reduced some of his other broadcasting responsibilities in recent years, including his MLB postseason work and March Madness schedule. But he has never publicly announced that he intends to step away from “Inside.”

As Hoops Wire previously noted⁠, Barkley said Johnson approached him about leaving together following the show’s transition to ESPN.

Of course, Barkley announcing a retirement is not exactly the same thing as Barkley actually retiring. He has threatened to walk away several times, including when TNT lost its NBA rights, only to reconsider.

Barkley also acknowledged receiving a lucrative offer from NBC before electing to remain with the show and help protect its longtime production staff.

ESPN now licenses “Inside the NBA” from TNT, though neither company has publicly revealed the duration of that arrangement. Kenny Smith already has agreed to appear on other ESPN programming, adding another wrinkle to the show’s long-term future.

Perhaps Johnson eventually will decide the coming season is his last. But that remains Johnson’s decision to make, not Barkley’s to announce.

And if Barkley retires again in the meantime, everyone should probably wait for the retirement ceremony before believing it.