Novak Djokovic traded the practice courts of Tennis Paradise for hardwood action in Los Angeles, and his wife Jelena made sure her presence was felt from afar. As the 24-time Grand Slam champion sat courtside at Crypto.com Arena on Mar. 1, 2026, watching the Los Angeles Lakers’ dominant win over the Sacramento Kings, cameras captured him alongside LeBron James and Luka Dončić.
When the NBA later shared the star-studded images on social media, Jelena reacted with a string of red heart emojis.
Inside Novak Djokovic’s Courtside Moment with LeBron James and Luka Dončić
Djokovic’s appearance came just days before the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where the Serbian star will be chasing his record-breaking sixth title in the California desert. The 24-time Grand Slam champion took a break from his final preparations to sit courtside for the Los Angeles Lakers’ commanding 128-104 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Dončić, who joined the Lakers a year earlier in a blockbuster move that reshaped the franchise’s direction, finished the night with 28 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds, including a spectacular three-pointer that had Djokovic on his feet, applauding from the front row.
During the game, the cameras captured Djokovic posing alongside James and Doncic courtside. The pictures were later posted on the official NBA Instagram account, where Jelena commented with a string of red heart emojis.
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During his post-game press conference, Dončić was notably humble, stating that having the “greatest of all time” watching him was an “unbelievable” experience that provided extra motivation.
During his post-game press conference, Dončić was notably humble, stating that having the “greatest of all time” watching him was an “unbelievable” experience that provided extra motivation.
“Novak, for me, he’s the GOAT. So just for him being here watching me, I mean, just unbelievable. So I talked to him, probably see him after. So I’m just really excited he’s here,” he said.
The timing of the visit was particularly special as it coincided with Dončić’s 27th birthday weekend. Following the Lakers’ win, Djokovic joined the NBA star for a private celebration where he reportedly led the room in singing “Happy Birthday.”
Is 2026 the Year Djokovic Breaks His Indian Wells Stalemate?
The entire interaction took place amid Djokovic’s preparations for the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, which will kick off in a couple of days. Djokovic’s history at Indian Wells is a tale of early dominance followed by a puzzling decade-long drought.
From 2007 to 2016, he was nearly untouchable, reaching six finals and winning five titles. During this peak, he set a tournament record by winning 20 consecutive matches. However, since his last title in 2016, Djokovic has struggled significantly in California.
He hasn’t reached a quarterfinal in ten years, hampered by travel restrictions, injuries, and surprising upsets, most notably his 2024 loss to lucky loser Luca Nardi and a second-round exit in 2025 to Botic van de Zandschulp. These early exits have kept him tied with Roger Federer for the most men’s singles titles at the event (5).
This year, a 38-year-old Djokovic is back in the desert seeking a record-breaking sixth crown. He enters the tournament with fresh momentum after reaching the 2026 Australian Open final, where he defeated Jannik Sinner in the semifinals before falling to Carlos Alcaraz in a four-set championship match.
He has been spotted practicing at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden this week. As the third seed, he finds himself in the same half of the draw as World No. 1 Alcaraz, setting the stage for a potential heavyweight semifinal clash as he looks to finally reclaim his throne. The Serb received a bye into the second round, where he will face either Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Kamil Majchrzak.
