Wembanyama Won’t Promote Sportsbooks and Prediction Markets

The NBA’s top young star won’t be popping up in sports betting ads anytime soon/

During a Thursday press conference, San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama rejected the idea of promoting sportsbooks and prediction markets. The 22-year-old said he prefers to “inspire in a good way,” and was disappointed in the number of NBA stars taking money to promote gambling.

Minnesota Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly shared Wemby's stance and also expressed concerns about gambling's effect on sports this week.

A Subtle Shot at NBA Stars

Wemby’s strong stance sets him apart from many of the NBA’s other top stars. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Nikola Jokic are the most notable players to partner with betting platforms. With legal sports betting now available in all 50 states via prediction markets, more opportunities exist for star athletes across sports to make their own deals.

In his statement, Wemby acknowledged his concern over his fellow stars agreeing to promote these platforms. He described it as “sad,” and worried they were unintentionally hurting their own fans.

While he stopped short of taking direct shots at his peers, Wemby’s words made it clear who he meant.

Giannis Pushes Forward With Kalshi

Back in February, Giannis found himself at the center of a controversy after promoting Kalshi. 

He announced his investment with Kalshi in a social media post soon after the NBA trade deadline. The prediction platform had a high-volume market on Giannis’s potential trade destinations, fueled by rumors that he wanted to be traded. This led to questions over the integrity of that market and led Giannis to ultimately delete the post. 

Over the summer, Giannis began popping up in more Kalshi ads. This came despite blowback from fans in February and the warnings he received about the dangers of prediction markets. 

The former MVP’s willingness to push ahead with the operator shows public pressure may not be enough to get NBA stars to follow Wemby’s lead.

Will Pro Leagues Crack Down on Deals?

Wemby’s words highlight a growing concern over the link between sports betting and sports leagues. Scandals and schemes keep emerging, making fans more wary of what they are watching.

Pro leagues have spoken on this issue and are seeking solutions, but will we actually see any changes?

Unfortunately, several pro teams and leagues have massive advertising deals with sports betting platforms. For example, the NFL promotes three preferred sportsbooks throughout the season. While some executives have expressed concerns, it hasn’t stopped these partnerships from being pursued.

Even if leagues were willing to crack down on player deals, they would need to get their respective players’ unions on board.