MILWAUKEE — TNT’s Ernie Johnson will receive the Award of Excellence from the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation on March 3 at Fiserv Forum.

The award recognizes "individuals who capture the spirit of commitment and pursuit of excellence, which define the legendary Coach Lombardi and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation. These honorees have the same desire as the foundation to prevent cancer, care for those fighting it and find a cure."

It’s a homecoming for Johnson, the NBA announcer who grew up on 68th St. in Milwaukee when his dad, Ernie Senior, was a pitcher for the Milwaukee Braves. He said that’s why this award, in Milwaukee, is so meaningful to him.

“Milwaukee has had such a special place in my heart,” said Johnson earlier this week during a virtual news conference. “To have my name attached to an award named for the great Vince Lombardi, I was just stunned.” 

Johnson is a two-time cancer survivor and urged people to reach out to those they know going through the illness.

“Hit the send button,” said Johnson. “It is so important. I can speak from experience, from having kind of a down day. All of a sudden, you check your email, and here is somebody just reaching out saying ‘I’m praying for you‘ or ‘Hey, hang in there’ and that does a world of good for you.

“One of the most important parts of this, once you’re in that club that nobody wants to be a part of, you have opportunity and you have the responsibility to try to help the next person through it.”

Johnson knows the NBA well from his duties on TNT’s “Inside the NBA.” He said the Milwaukee Bucks may have a shot at taking home another championship title.

“I mean, the Bucks are right there. I think there is a short list of teams that can win the whole thing and they are on that list. And I’ve said before, I think that if Khris Middleton doesn’t get hurt… the Bucks might be in the finals. The Bucks might have won the championship a year ago if Khris Middleton is there. I think, again a lot of it — and you can this about any team — …depends on health.”

Tickets are still available for the March 3.event. Funds raised from the annual black tie event go toward cancer treatments and research. Click here for more information.