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Wembanyama as shown on a unique Sorare NFT collector's cards
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has ruled out ever promoting a sports betting company, drawing a clear line between gambling brands and the companies he wants to represent.
Good to Know
Wembanyama gave his answer during San Antonio Spurs training camp after a reporter asked whether he would consider a sports betting partnership.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “I will never do that. Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it, in my opinion. Everybody does whatever they want, but without me.”
His position comes while betting companies and prediction markets increasingly use major NBA names in marketing.
LeBron James recently joined Polymarket after previously working with DraftKings. Front Office Sports reported that Polymarket will pay James $15 million annually, with his promotional work focused on football rather than basketball.
Kevin Durant has worked with FanDuel and invested in Kalshi, while Giannis Antetokounmpo became a Kalshi shareholder earlier in 2026.
Wembanyama, however, said money no longer drives his decisions over commercial partnerships. His existing brand relationships include Nike, Louis Vuitton, 2K Sports and Fanatics.
“In the past, there was a dimension of money,” he said. “Not anymore. Even if I say that, I’ve refused plenty, much, much more money than I’ve made for things that were not my values.
“Now, I want to promote things that have a good impact, have a good influence with who I can share messages and values. One thing that is very important – obviously, we earn millions and millions (but) this is not our biggest strength. Our biggest strength is inspiring. We can inspire in a good or a bad way. I want to inspire in a good way. That’s the strongest thing I can do.”
Wembanyama takes that position within a league that already has extensive links with regulated sports betting.
The NBA currently identifies DraftKings and FanDuel as official domestic gaming partners and lists several other authorized operators, including BetMGM, Caesars, Fanatics and Hard Rock.
At the same time, NBA rules prohibit players from wagering on NBA or NBA G League games. League rules allow penalties that can include fines, suspension, expulsion or permanent disqualification.
The NBA also joined other major US sports leagues in creating the Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising. Its principles require advertising to target adults, include responsible gambling messaging and avoid misleading claims about potential financial returns.
Fun Fact: In November of 2023, a unique Victor Wembanyama Sorare card was auctioned for a record-breaking $110,199.79