Before Ernie Johnson became the voice of TNT Sports and host of the beloved Inside the NBA, he was the voice of the Atlanta Braves. That experience was front of mind as Johnson helped kick off the 2024-25 NBA season and preview the pairing of LeBron James and Bronny James for the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night.
Back in the 1990s, Johnson joined his father, Ernie Sr., in the SportSouth broadcast booth during the heyday of the Braves’ reign over the National League. Johnson felt the impact of when family overlaps with work and knows what the Jameses are feeling on the eve of the season.
He explained that feeling during Tuesday’s Inside the NBA.
“This gets personal for me, because as much fun as I have had through the years working with you guys and everybody else at TBS and TNT, nothing will ever match the opportunity I had in the ’90s to work with my dad and to call ballgames with my dad, shoulder to shoulder,” Johnson said.
“For LeBron James and looking at this opportunity and will it happen and can it happen, LeBron, soak it in and enjoy every second. Because it doesn’t get any better than that.”
“Nothing will ever match the opportunity I had in the ’90s to work with my dad and to call ballgames with my father … LeBron, soak it in and enjoy every second, because it doesn’t get better than that.”
Ernie Johnson gives his perspective on Bronny James entering the NBA: pic.twitter.com/sQiEtGKmxp
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 22, 2024
Many have critiqued the Lakers for bringing the younger James in as a second-round pick over other, more “deserving” young prospects. Others have countered that as an all-time great, James has more than earned his place in the NBA and within the Lakers to push the team to draft his son.
Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. will be in attendance at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday as the previous most iconic father-son sports duo, passing the baton to the Jameses.
To hear Johnson and see the Griffeys respond so strongly to the moment, maybe the power of what the Jameses are doing has to be felt to be understood.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.