Dick Vitale is back, and college basketball just got a whole lot better! The 85-year-old ESPN analyst, known for his iconic voice and undying enthusiasm, has just announced some fantastic news—he’s cancer-free. After battling through several tough diagnoses, including melanoma, lymphoma, vocal cord cancer, and cancerous lymph nodes, Vitale is ready to return to the broadcast booth. And we can’t wait!

As Vitale himself said, “SANTA CLAUS came early as Dr. Rick Brown called & said that my PET SCAN at 7 AM came back CLEAN OF CANCER! OMG thanks so much to ALL of YOU for your 🙏🙏🙏 Yes I’m cutting the nets down, baby—it’s my National Championship!” The veteran’s joy and gratitude resonate with fans everywhere, marking a triumphant moment in his legendary career.

LeBron James, who’s always admired the broadcasting veteran since his early hooping days, took to X to share his excitement. The hoopster posted, “🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 College hoops ain’t the same w/o Dicky V calling them!” Honestly, he’s not wrong—college ball hasn’t felt the same without Vitale’s voice echoing through the airwaves!

What’s even more incredible is Vitale’s mental strength throughout this entire journey. Despite his battle with cancer over the past few years, he’s never lost his spirit and drive to succeed. His positivity and love for college basketball have kept him going, and now it’s clearly paying off. Fans have been eagerly awaiting his courtside return, and the day is finally coming…

LeBron James and Dick Vitale: A heartfelt friendship built on mutual respect

LeBron James and Dick Vitale share one of the coolest friendships in the basketball world. It’s more than just a player-analyst relationship. Over the years, they’ve built a bond rooted in respect, deep admiration, and a shared love for the game. Bron has been dominating the NBA circuit for almost two decades. Meanwhile, Dickie V has been the voice of college basketball since the late ’70s. They come from different sides of the basketball world, but their mutual passion for the game we all love brought them together.

Dickie V’s been hyping Bron since the very beginning. Back in 2002, before one of LeBron’s high school games, Vitale had said, “In my 24 years of calling basketball games, including NCAA tournament matchups, Duke-North Carolina games, and NBA contests, I’ve never seen anything like this!” Fast forward a few years in 2006, and the broadcasting veteran was still in awe. After LeBron James’ early playoff performances, he couldn’t hold back, saying, “Wow, he was awesome, baby, with a capital A during the postseason.”

And it didn’t stop there. When ‘The Chosen One’ made his legendary return to Cleveland in 2014, Vitale was as hyped as ever, calling him “the best young talent I have ever seen on the basketball court.” Even as LeBron James racked up years in the league, Vitale still sees him as “the GOAT.” Their mutual respect is unmatched, and it’s clear they’re each other’s biggest fans.

On the other hand, LeBron has always spoken highly of Vitale’s energy. In interviews, he’s said that the sportscaster helped shape his love for college basketball. King James even called him “the best” and a true legend! It’s not just about his broadcasting, though. The Kid from Akron loves Vitale’s larger-than-life personality, which captures exactly what makes watching college games so special.

And now, with him getting ready to return to the sidelines, the excitement is real. His energy, his iconic catchphrases, and his deep love for the game are going to bring something extra to college basketball. It’s safe to say that the game hasn’t been the same without him. But now, we’ll get to hear his voice again, and that’s something fans, including LeBron James, can all celebrate!