Wembanyama rejects sports betting deals as NBA embraces gambling
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama flatly refused a sports betting partnership, calling it sad that other NBA players promote gambling.
At a Spurs practice, a reporter asked 22-year-old Victor Wembanyama if he'd ever partner with a sports betting firm. "Absolutely not," he said.
"I will never do that. Honestly, I think it's very sad to see some players promote it."
The NBA displays ads for FanDuel and DraftKings during broadcasts. Games used to stream exclusively on FanDuel Sports Network until that service ended a few months ago.
LeBron James is the face of Polymarket; Kevin Durant invests in Kalshi; Giannis Antetokounmpo holds Kalshi shares. Wembanyama's refusal stands out in a league where sponsorship deals with gambling firms are now routine.
For a star poised to dominate the NBA for the next decade, his willingness to reject lucrative contracts on principle is increasingly rare.
- 22
- Age
- San Antonio Spurs
- Team
Why it mattersProfessional sports leagues normalise gambling as entertainment, and when young stars refuse, it signals that ethical lines still matter to some.
AustraliaAustralian NBA fans see betting integrated into every broadcast, and Wembanyama's stance offers a counter-example to the industry push for sports gambling.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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