(Video) Carlos Alcaraz Pays Tribute to NBA Legend LeBron James During Indian Wells Practice Session

Carlos Alcaraz will be chasing his third title at Indian Wells, where he lost to Jack Draper last year.

(Video) Carlos Alcaraz Pays Tribute to NBA Legend LeBron James During Indian Wells Practice Session

Carlos Alcaraz wore LeBron James' Lakers jersey during his Indian Wells practice session (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz, The Athletic, The Tennis Letter)

In Short
  • Carlos Alcaraz paid tribute to LeBron James by wearing a Lakers jersey during his practice session at Indian Wells.
  • He aims to win his third Indian Wells title and his third title of the season after victories at the Australian Open and Qatar Open.
  • Novak Djokovic is seen as the main challenger to Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, with a 5-5 head-to-head record against Alcaraz.

Just a day is left for the first Masters 1000 of the season to kick off. The Indian Wells Masters is scheduled to start on March 4, and World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz will be bidding to win his third title of the tournament.

He has already hit the courts for practice. In one of his practice sessions, he paid tribute to NBA legend LeBron James, donning his Los Angeles Lakers jersey once again.

Here’s the video:

Alcaraz wore James’ jersey also during a practice session at the Australian Open, for which the basketball great wrote: “[Salute] to the Young [king]” on his Instagram story.

Alcaraz went on to reach the final at Melbourne Park and defeated Novak Djokovic to become the youngest Career Grand Slam champion. At Indian Wells, he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the finals in 2023 and 2024, but couldn’t complete the three-peat, losing to eventual champion Jack Draper last year.

Alcaraz will not only be chasing his third Indian Wells title but also his third title of the season, given that apart from the Australian Open, he also added his career’s first Qatar Open title to his trophy cabinet by breezing past Arthur Fils.

Jonathan Overend thinks only Novak Djokovic can challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

At the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic reached his first Major final since the 2024 Wimbledon by knocking out Jannik Sinner in five sets in the semifinals, shocking the whole tennis world, given that the Italian had won in their last five meetings. Tennis commentator Jonathan Overend thinks the 38-year-old still remains the only player who can challenge the dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Novak Djokovic)

You look at Alexander Zverev serving for the match against Alcaraz at the Australian Open, and you have to say he was so close and yet still so far away. In a way, it was predictable what happened in that service game, and that told me he is still so far away from breaking his duck, which is why I say Djokovic is still the main challenger to Alcaraz and Sinner.

Jonathan Overend told Tennis365

Djokovic holds a 5-5 head-to-head tie against Alcaraz. Against Sinner, he trails 5-6.

You’re looking at players who can disrupt, who can get a win, you know, a bit like [Botic] van de Zandschulp against Alcaraz a couple of years ago [at the US Open], even though admittedly Alcaraz now has stabilized in the early rounds of Slams. You’re thinking, who could take Alcaraz or Sinner out early? And is that more likely than a Zverev, for example, winning at the back end of a Slam? I still think that is more likely. I think the pressure is on those younger players coming through. The big challenger to Sinner Alcaraz? We might not know about them yet.

Jonathan Overend added

Djokovic will also be returning to the courts at Indian Wells, playing his first tournament since the Australian Open. Last year, Botic van de Zandschulp knocked him out in the opening round. Djokovic holds the record for the most Indian Wells titles, along with Roger Federer (five each).

Sinner has never progressed beyond the semifinals in the first Sunshine Doubles event. He made the last four in 2023 and 2024, while last year, he was forced to skip the tournament because of his doping ban.

Sinner will also be chasing his first title of the season, as after his defeat to Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals, he lost to Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open. The last time he won a title was at the 2025 ATP Finals by defeating Alcaraz.

Also Read: What is the Prize Money for the 2026 Indian Wells Open?