The set of Inside the NBA turned somber on Sunday night after a startling moment live on air prompted a formal apology from host Ernie Johnson just 24 hours later. During a segment revisiting the most prolific playoff debuts off the bench, the crew spotlighted Billy Ray Bates, who dropped 29 points in his first postseason appearance back in 1980.
While reflecting on the list, longtime analyst Charles Barkley casually asked: “I wonder if he’s still alive,” referring to Bates.
Johnson and Kenny Smith immediately flagged the question, with Johnson replying: “Not unless you know the answer.”
Barkley defended his curiosity, saying: “It’s a fair question.” But things escalated when Shaquille O’Neal chimed in with an unverified and incorrect statement.
“He passed away, Chuck,” Shaq said flatly. “He passed away.”
That information, it turns out, was completely false. Billy Ray Bates is very much alive at the age of 68, with no public health concerns recently reported. The misinformation, though likely unintentional, spread quickly after the live segment aired, prompting concern and confusion online.
Ernie Johnson’s heartfelt apology
By Monday, Johnson made sure to start Inside the NBA with a clear and direct correction. Speaking to the camera, he owned the moment and issued an apology both to Bates and his family.
“We would like to issue a correction and an apology for something that happened last night on Inside the NBA,” Johnson began. “We were talking about Billy Ray Bates, who back in 1980, had one of the NBA’s best playoff debuts coming off the bench with 29 points.
“In the course of our discussion, we passed on some bad information that Billy Ray Bates had passed away. While it was inadvertent, it was also inaccurate, and insensitive, and inexcusable. In short, we screwed up. And we apologize to Billy Ray Bates and his family.”
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