Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green Reacts to Charles Barkley & Ernie Johnson's Potential Final Season on Inside the NBA

15 Sept 2026 · 1 min

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1:24

In this YouTube commentary, Draymond Green discusses recent news that Charles Barkley announced on the Bill Simmons Podcast that the current season may be his last on Inside the NBA. Green links Barkley's potential departure to Ernie Johnson’s possible retirement, stating that his own future on the show is tied to Ernie’s—if Ernie steps away, Green will likely leave as well. He praises Ernie’s on‑set presence, likening him to the best point guard he’s ever played with, and highlights Ernie’s skill in managing conversation flow, timing, and production cues. Green notes that while Barkley has hinted at leaving before, this is the first time Ernie has been suggested to retire, and he predicts Ernie will quit after this year, honoring his long tenure at Turner Sports since 1989.

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Charles Barkley announced on the Bill Simmons Podcast that this season will be his last on Inside the NBA. Me and Ernie are a package deal. So right now, unless Ernie changes his mind next year, this is my last year, 100%. This isn't our first time hearing Chuck say this is it, but this is definitely our first time hearing Ernie say it. I do not believe Ernie will be back after this year. I think he will call it a quit. So he's been at it a long time. He's been at Turner Sports since 1989. I was born in 1990. And you all think I'm old. Having the opportunity to work with Ernie on the set with those guys, and I say this with all due respect because y'all know I rock for this guy. He is the best point guard I've ever played with. That's no disrespect to the great Steph Curry. Ernie Johnson on a set is as incredible as they come. He sees everything. He's like, man, this guy haven't spoke for a while. Let me toss it to him. Oh man, this conversation is going off the rails a little bit as it can on that show. Let me rein it back in. You can have a producer in your ear and they're like, Chuck, stop. Like, yo, we got 5 seconds. And somehow Ernie still raps in the time. Like, this guy is amazing. And so number one, I tip my cap to him headed into his last year. I do think Chuck may be serious this time. When you tie it to Ernie like that, it makes all the more sense.