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Victor Wembanyama made his stance on sports betting very clear.
On Thursday, the Spurs superstar spoke to reporters at training camp and answered whether he’d ever sign a deal with a sports betting company.
“Absolutely not. I will never do that. Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it,” Wembanyama said. “Everybody does whatever they want, but without me.”
The 23-year-old revealed he’s turned down endorsement deals in the past because values don’t align.
“Obviously, we earn millions and millions. This is not our biggest strength. Our biggest strength is inspiring, and we can inspire in a good way or a bad way. I want to inspire in a good way. That’s the strongest thing I can do,” Wembanyama added.
The remarks from the Spurs big man comes just weeks after LeBron James announced a multi-year partnership with Polymarket. The 41-year-old becomes the latest NBA star to secure a deal with a prediction market space.
Kevin Durant has a partnership with FanDuel and Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Kalshi shareholder. James became the newest athlete to headline a commercial for a sports betting company.
The 76ers star signed a two-year, $8 million deal with Philadelphia in the summer, but James is expected to earn $15 million per year with Polymarket.
The deal calls into question how the NBA will navigate partnerships with sports betting companies in the foreseeable future as athletes tap into the sports betting market.
