Wembanyama Rejects Sports Betting Partnerships
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The San Antonio Spurs star says he will never endorse gambling firms, contrasting his stance with other NBA luminaries.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama stated he will never partner with a sports betting firm, according to reporting from The Guardian. During a Thursday practice, Wembanyama told San Antonio Express-News columnist Mike Finger, “Absolutely not," when asked about such partnerships, adding that he finds it “very sad” to see other players promote gambling.
Wembanyama’s stance comes amid a broader trend of NBA stars embracing betting and prediction markets. The Guardian notes that LeBron James has become the face of Polymarket, while Kevin Durant invests in Kalshi and reads FanDuel odds. Additionally, Giannis Antetokounmpo is listed as a Kalshi shareholder.
The NBA has further integrated gambling into its operations by displaying ads for DraftKings and FanDuel and featuring betting odds during broadcasts. The Guardian also noted that several NBA games were previously streamed exclusively on FanDuel Sports Network before the service ended a few months ago.
While Wembanyama has taken a firm line, other players have disagreed. Yahoo Sports reports that Kyle Kuzma has pushed back against Wembanyama’s position on gambling.