Ernie Johnson suffocates and needs a break in an emotional homage to the late ‘Inside the NBA’ colleagues

Ernie Johnson fought tears on Thursday evening

Ernie Johnson, known as the passionate mediator and voice of ‘Inside the NBA’, was destroyed on Thursday evening with emotions when he paid tribute to the long -time crew member of the show, Kevin Thomas, who died and was a beloved stage hand for the show.

Thomas worked behind the scenes of the TV program for over 30 years and was not only commemorated as an employee, but as a family member.

During one of the segments of the NBA-TIP-off broadcast, Johnson fought to express himself when he thought about Thomas’ sense of humor and quality. When he started talking about the presence of his late friend on the set, he was accompanied by the entire crew who worked and held on the show, visibly emotionally before he finally gave his speech.

“They look at the ‘Inside the NBA’ crew. The next thing you can achieve to a family within the workplace. Our family hurts this evening because we have lost a brother of us,” he said. “Kevin Thomas was one of the stage of Studio J. He was a great teammate.”

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The show played back the film material of some of Thomas’ best known sketches on the program, such as grinding Shaqs nails and did that to wrestle with the ex-lacers Big Man for a segment. Johnson said: “Memories flood us” when he was sitting in loss of words while Charles Barkley took over the reins to fill the air.

“I admired him and respected him. The people behind us make the whole heavy lifting for the show. The world is a sader place because Kevin is not here,” said Barkley. Kenny Smith then revealed that the exchange between him and Thomas was often broadcast in the form of content, even if O’Neal was pushed into a Christmas tree during a holiday special.

Johnson paused again after he removed and reminded how Thomas always works with a smile. Then he suffocated when he discussed the “unspeakably difficult” tragedy, and wished that his family could find and close and close comfort while he said that the studio would “never be”.

The words of the NBA crew came shortly before the tip in game 2 of the Western Conference semi -finals between the Golden State Warriors and Minnesota Timberwolves. The segment ended with the entire team behind the NBA-TIP-OFF desk after a tribute image to Thomas.

The reporting returned with a more carefree note, with the crew reacted to Barkley’s 4-lays Parlay for the game, which Anthony Edwards scored over 30 points, Jimmy Butler scored 25+ points, Julius Randle scored more than 15 points and Buddy Hield scored 10+ points in the matchup. In the first quarter, the Warriorsive was only 15 points, in the absence of Stephen Curry, who missed the game due to a thigh injury in the second quarter of game 1.