Ernie Johnson says Inside the NBA season will be his last

Ernie Johnson told viewers on Wednesday that the current season of "Inside the NBA" will be his last as host. "It's just time," he said in a social media post explaining the decision.

Johnson, 70, said he is not retiring from broadcasting. "This is by no means the end. It's just a turning of the page," he said, adding that he will continue working, including covering the NCAA men's basketball tournament for CBS and Turner Sports. "I just want to slow down a bit," he wrote.

Johnson joined Turner Sports in 1989 and has hosted "Inside the NBA" since 1990. He has won six Sports Emmys and is a member of the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He has dealt with heart issues in recent years but said those are not prompting his departure from the show.

Johnson thanked TNT Sports and ESPN crews and addressed viewers directly: "I just want to say thanks to you. Thanks for your loyalty, for your love, for your support. And on this day, for your understanding."

He said he will "forever cherish every chapter we have written with 'Inside the NBA.'"