The present research studied the individual and combined effects of spheroidization, conventionally hardening and tempering treatment, and laser surface hardening treatments on the resulting microstructural and wear behavior of AISI 52100 bearing steel and compared results with non-spheroidized and its subsequent heat treatments. The wear tests were carried out on a conventional ball-on-disc sliding configuration under lubrication conditions. Microstructure analysis of treated layers and worn surface morphologies was characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM), and Vickers Micro-hardness test profiling. In the sliding wear tests, spheroidization followed by conventional heat treatment significantly improved wear resistance compared to non-spheroidized counterparts. Further enhancement was achieved through subsequent laser surface hardening, which refined the microstructure and facilitated the formation of nano-scale alloy carbides. Examination of the worn surfaces revealed that the laser-hardened areas were highly effective in preventing the formation of delaminated layers and facilitated in lowering of contact stress due to its high strength microstructure. In addition, the spheroidized substrate with low hardness in laser hardened and prior treated 52100 bearing steel may provide enhanced strength and rolling contact fatigue resistance for bearing engineering components.