MACON, Ga. — "Inside the NBA" anchor and former WMAZ anchor Ernie Johnson Jr. will be inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Johnson's co-anchor, Charles Barkley, made the announcement Thursday night on a TNT broadcast.
Ernie Johnson Jr. began his broadcasting career on the radio in Athens while at the University of Georgia, before working in Macon at 13WMAZ from 1979 to 1981 as an anchor.
From Macon, he went to WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, SC and then to WSB-TV in Atlanta where he made the move from news to sports.
In 1989, Johnson joined Turner Sports, becoming the anchor of "Inside the NBA."
"I want to be the first person, it's an honor and a privilege, to congratulate Ernie Johnson, going into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame," Barkley said on the TNT broadcast.
Johnson's response, "Get outta here!"
In 2020, Johnson returned to 13WMAZ and sat down with Frank Malloy reminiscing on his time here and the changes from now until then.
Ernie Johnson Jr. reflects on working at 13WMAZ
Ernie Johnson Jr. tours his old stomping grounds
Johnson will be formally inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in December at a ceremony in New York City.