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ERNIE Johnson was absent from Inside the NBA on Thursday after a death in his family.
Johnson’s sister, Christine, died on Wednesday.
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Johnson did not star on Inside the NBA after the tragic death, and Adam Lefkoe filled in for him.
He shared the news with live TV viewers from the desk of NBA on TNT.
“Tonight we’re going to pause for a moment to step away from basketball,” Lefkoe said.
“We’re going to send our deepest condolences to our friend and mentor Ernie Johnson.
“Yesterday Ernie’s beloved sister Christine Johnson passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 72 years old.
“Ernie we are thinking of you, we’re praying for you and your wonderful family.”
Charles Barkley chimed in with his condolences after Lefkoe shared his opening message.
“Ernie is the leader of our family and our family leader is going through pain,” he said.
“So man we love you, we miss you, you stay at home and take care of your family.”
Shaquille O’Neal was next to share his message.
“I definitely feel his pain. We’re brothers, we feel the hurt,” he said.
“When I got the text it made me shed a tear.”
Fans of Inside the NBA overwhelmingly supported Johnson on social media, sending their thoughts and prayers to his family.
“Sending prayers to @TurnerSportsEJ and his family,” one fan said.
“People know ernie is a real one,” another fan said.
New rights deal
The NBA signed an 11-year deal with three networks for the league’s rights from the 2025-26 season.
And there will be no games on TNT for the first time since the network launched in 1988.
The Walt Disney Company will continue to show the league with 80 regular-season games across ESPN and ABC.
They will also show around 18 playoff games from the first and second round, a Conference Finals series for 10 of the 11 years, and remain the home of the NBA Finals.
NBC will return as an NBA broadcaster for the first time since 2002.
The network will show up to 100 games per season across it’s channels and Peacock streaming service.
It will also be the home of NBA All-Star and show approximately 28 playoff games from the first and second round.
NBC will show one Conference Finals Series for six of the 11 years, rotating with new broadcaster Amazon Prime.
Amazon will show 66 NBA regular-season games including one on Black Friday.
The streaming service is also the home of the latter stages of the NBA Cup and the entire Play-In Tournament.
Prime will also broadcast around one third of the playoff games in the first and second round.
“Love you Ernie. Rest in Peace Christine,” a third fan said.
“Prayers and condolences to Ernie and his family,” a fourth fan said.
“So sorry for your loss,” a fifth fan said.
There is no indication of when Johnson might return to the set of Inside the NBA.
His cohosts urged him to take as much time as he needs, and he could be off the show for multiple days.
