Ernie Johnson could barely get the words out.

Charles Barkley will not be leaving TNT or the “Inside the NBA” crew for the foreseeable future.

(CNN) - Former NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal, 47, is in mourning after his sister, Ayesha Harrison-Jex, died after battling cancer. O'Neal, who is a host on TNT's "Inside the NBA," was absent from Thursday night's episode, and his co-hosts addressed O'Neal's absence. "We have to tell you why you're not seeing Shaquille O'Neal here on the set tonight," co-host Ernie Johnson said. He said his world revolves around his brother and two sisters, and he lost one of his sisters this morning." "Thanks for the condolences and the love," O'Neal wrote in response on Twitter.