Charles Barkley tears up on air after ‘Inside the NBA’ news: ‘Knew the day was coming’

SportsShaquille O'Neal, Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley stand at mid-court to be honored during the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)APBy Brian Linder | blinder@pennlive.comCharles Barkley’s voice was low, and his cheeks shone as though he had been crying when the “Inside the NBA” cameras cut to him Wednesday night.“That was tough,” Barkley said as he sniffled a bit. “We knew the day was coming. Still tough.”That day? Well, Ernie Johnson, the leader of the “Inside the NBA” crew, announced that this would be his last season on the show. And as they relived that in the studio, Barkley’s emotions spilled out for all to see. “Been here for 26, 27 years, and it has been an honor and privilege to work with you all this time, and Kenny and Shaq, and the amazing people behind the scenes,” Barkley continued. “Nothing like it. To be able to dribble a stupid basketball and get rich and famous and then come here and get paid to watch the best players in the world. The best players in the world … and get paid to do it. We’d watch anyway.“And there’s so many people that, you know, Turner, WBD and now I guess we’re Skydance, it has been an journey,” he continued. “You have been our leader, our unquestionable leader.”Barkley said the question he is asked most is whether Johnson is as good a person as he seems.“And I say, ‘Man, he’s better than that,’” Barkley continued. “So, I just want to say thank you, thank you for being our leader for all these years. Man, it’s still, even though I knew it was coming, it’s still hard brother.”Barkley then relayed a story about his mentor, Joe Morgan, meeting Jackie Robinson.“He called his dad, and said, ‘Dad, I’m going to meet Jackie Robinson tomorrow. What do I say?’” Barkley continued. “He said, ‘Son, just tell him thank you because a thank you goes a long way.’”Barkley said that Morgan told him that Morgan had bumped into Robinson again 20 years later, and the legendary player remembered it. “He said, ‘You’re the kid who said thank you to me,’” Barkley said. “And, all I can say Ernie is thank you.”Johnson, clearly emotional, told Barkley, “That means the world.”“I was holding everything together pretty well today,” he said. “Looking at you man … you are about to…”Kenny Smith then led the group in giving Johnson a standing ovation. Johnson, 70, is in his 37th season as the host of “Inside the NBA.”Smith joined the crew in 1998, followed by Barkley in 2000 and Shaquille O’Neal in 2011. Brian Linder is the trending editor at PennLive.com. He has more than 20 years of experience working for newspapers first in South Carolina, then Daytona Beach, Florida and now in Pennsylvania. Linder spent...