‘Inside the NBA’ Host Ernie Johnson Gives Emotional Speech at Sports Emmys as Future of Show Remains Uncertain

Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson gave a speech at the Sports Emmys that may have referenced the show’s uncertain future amid NBA media rights negotiations.

On Tuesday, Johnson won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Studio Host. It was his sixth time winning the award.

Although he’s won the award plenty of times, Johnson got very emotional while talking the about the importance of gratitude.

“This past Saturday, my wife and I were in Nashville, Tennessee,” Johnson said. “We took twelve members of the family up there to celebrate my oldest granddaughter’s birthday — her ninth birthday — at the Ryman Theater listening to Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. And at one point, I had one of our grandkids in my arms and we’re swaying to the music as Drew Holcomb sings a song called ‘Gratitude.’ And it’s in moments like that — where you’re kind of holding your world right there — with the reminder to be grateful.

“We can all be grateful for what we do. I mean, who in this room doesn’t consider what they have a ‘get to’ job? We get to do this. I get to work with Pedro Martinez. I get to work with [Kenny Smith] and [Charles Barkley] and [Shaquille O’Neal]; so I’m grateful for that.”

That expression of gratitude comes at a time when Inside the NBA’s day appear to be numbered. Wednesdays reports indicated that the NBA will soon formalize media contracts with Disney, Amazon and NBC, leaving TNT and its Emmy-winning show out of the picture.

Watch above via the Sports Emmys.