Ernie Johnson, Jr.

In the world of sports.

Ernie Johnson, Jr. is one of sports’ most respected and loved personalities. He is a veteran sportscaster for Turner Sports. He is the host of Turner Sports NBA coverage and TNT’s Sports Emmy® Award-winning “Inside the NBA” studio show with analysts Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. He is also studio host for Turner and CBS’ NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship coverage as well as play-by-play announcer for TBS’ exclusive coverage of Major League Baseball and the PGA Championship.

Previously, Johnson has covered the National Football League, the British Open, Wimbledon and the Olympics. He has also called the Atlanta Braves games on SportSouth from 1993-1996 with his dad, Ernie Johnson Sr., a former MLB pitcher and Braves play-by-play announcer.

Johnson is a graduate of Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and studied Mass Communication at the University of Georgia. He was named Outstanding Young Alumnus in 1986. He and his wife Cheryl have six children, four of whom are adopted.

Faith lived out.

Already a successful sportscaster for Turner Sports, Johnson became a Christian in 1997 through the ministry of Kevin Myers—a 1982 IWU grad— at 12Stone Church. Since that time, Johnson has been and continues to be outspoken about his faith in both his personal life, as well as his very public and successful professional life.

Public Recognition

• Bill Hartman Award as well as the Musial Award, presented in honor of Stan Musial’s legacy by celebrating iconic “good sports” and the year’s greatest moments in sportsmanship (2015)
• Athletes in Action’s honorary John Wooden Keys to Life Award reserved for individuals who exemplify Wooden’s “Seven Keys to Life” including character, integrity and faith (2007)
• Sports Emmy® for Best Studio Host/Personality (2015, 2006 and 2001) 
• Four Emmy® Awards for Outstanding Studio Show – Daily (awarded to TNT’s Inside the NBA)