Wembanyama Draws Hard Line Against NBA Gambling Endorsements

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has declared he will "never" promote a gambling site, describing the practice of players endorsing such companies as "very sad." Speaking Thursday, Wembanyama stated he intends to only endorse products that provide a "good influence" and positive impact.

This stance puts Wembanyama at odds with several of the league's premier stars. According to Sports Illustrated, Kevin Durant—who signed a personal deal with FanDuel two years after his company, Boardroom, signed a multiyear deal with the firm in 2022—responded Friday by stating Wembanyama's views have "nothing to do with me." Durant added that he did not consider the moral implications when signing his FanDuel agreement.

Other high-profile players embracing the industry include LeBron James, who is partnered with DraftKings and Polymarket, Giannis Antetokounmpo, a shareholder in Kalshi, and Nikola Jokic, who is endorsed by SuperBet. The Guardian notes that the NBA further integrates gambling through official partnerships with DraftKings and FanDuel, including the former FanDuel Sports Network streaming service.

These endorsements arrive amid a series of gambling-related scandals. Sports Illustrated reports that the NBA banned Jontay Porter for life in 2024 for betting on games and manipulating his performance. Additionally, federal prosecutors have recently charged Malik Beasley with accepting bribes to manipulate game performance, and charged Terry Rozier and Damon Jones in a scheme involving confidential lineup and injury information. The league's history with gambling also includes the 2007 case of referee Tim Donaghy, who served 15 months in prison for an illegal betting scheme.