In recent years, leagues across American sports have increasingly embraced online sports betting and prediction markets. It's impossible to watch any game without being bombarded by gambling advertisements, and many of them have players serving as spokespeople.
Victor Wembanyama won't be one them.
While LeBron James recently partnered with Polymarket and Giannis Antetokounmpo with Kalshi, Wembanyama told reporters on Thursday that it was sad to see his NBA peers jump at the opportunity to push predatory companies. These are brands that rely on fans losing as a core business model, and NBA stars have been easy to normalize them.
Wembanyama called it "sad to see."
Victor Wembanyama was asked if he would ever sign a deal with a sports betting company:
“Absolutely not. Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it.” pic.twitter.com/foorjwznDq
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) October 1, 2026
This isn't a problem that's exclusive to the NBA. Every major pro league has pushed sports betting on its fan base despite the very real on-field risk.
It was refreshing to hear Wembanyama speak out against gambling endorsements instead of blindly accepting money to push a product that hurts fans. Let's hope more stars follow his lead.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Victor Wembanyama spoke out against NBA players partnering with sports betting companies
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