Ernie Johnson missed the NBA’s episode on Thursday 

In the episode of NBA on TNT that aired on Thursday, Ernie Johnson was not present. In 2021, Ernie unfortunately lost his son Michael.

Thanks to his three decades of hosting the sports commentary programme Inside The NBA, the broadcaster has become a staple on our TVs. Since the show’s inception in 1990, he has hosted it alongside a number of well-known NBA players, such as Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Many home viewers began to wonder why the presenter wasn’t there when Ernie missed his planned programme on Thursday. The network has verified that Ernie Johnson missed Thursday’s NBA on TNT show since his mother Lois Marjorie Johnson recently passed away.

How did the NBA pay tribute to Ernie Johnson’s mother?

The ‘Inside the NBA’ presenter missed Thursday’s show in order to spend time with his family and pay tribute to his mother, who passed away. In a two-minute piece, TNT recalled Lois and gave her a heartfelt tribute. The network prayed for Ernie and his family and extended them their love and best wishes in the tribute.

Nothing could have been more false, the presenter admitted while talking to Basketball Network about their choice to adopt Michael, “I would explain that we had adopted Michael for who he was—a neglected, forgotten child who deserved another chance—rather than what he would grow up to be, in the most empathetic tone I could manage.”

After hearing the devastating news of Ernie’s mother’s demise, viewers at home offered prayers and supportive notes to him and his family. “My sincere sympathies to the family of Ernie Johnson,” one viewer said. Timothy Bella of The Washington Post sent, “Condolences to Ernie Johnson and his family on the passing of his mother, Lois Marjorie Johnson.

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