Victor Wembanyama made it pretty clear where he stands on the wave of gambling-related partnerships rolling through the NBA.
In a recent interview, the San Antonio Spurs star was asked about the kinds of causes and endorsements he wants to support, and his answer landed as a pointed contrast to some of the league’s biggest names.
“You can choose to be the guy that's gonna promote gambling and alcohol... I want to promote healthy things. I don't mean just the food but healthy habits, things that make people's lives better,” Wembanyama said.
That comment comes as the NBA keeps moving deeper into prediction-market territory. LeBron James is now with the Philadelphia 76ers, and his off-court deal with Polymarket has drawn attention because it reportedly tops his playing contract.
Front Office Sports’ Ryan Glasspiegel and Ben Horney reported that “LeBron James will make more money from his Polymarket partnership than from playing for the 76ers, Front Office Sports has learned. The prediction-market platform is paying James $15 million a year under the recently announced partnership, sources tell FOS.
James is not an investor in Polymarket, just an endorser, one source says,".
Giannis Antetokounmpo also has a deal with a prediction market, and the 76ers recently became the first NBA team to announce a partnership with Kalshi. As The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov wrote, “The Philadelphia 76ers have struck a multi-year deal with Kalshi to make Kalshi its official prediction market partner. Sixers say they're the 1st NBA team to name an official prediction market partner, and are following in the footsteps of the NBA's deals this week,".
For Wembanyama, the message was simple: he wants his platform tied to healthier habits, not gambling. His comments didn’t name anyone directly, but the timing made the target easy to spot. The league may be embracing these new business lanes, but Wembanyama made it clear he doesn’t see that as the direction he wants to take.
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