Victor Wembanyama has made it clear that betting and prediction market endorsements will never be part of his growing list of sponsorship deals.
The San Antonio Spurs star was asked Thursday whether he would ever consider working with a sports betting or prediction market company, and he didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely not. I will never do that. Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it,” Wembanyama said, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “Everybody does whatever they want, but without me.”
Wembanyama already has major partnerships with brands including Nike, Louis Vuitton and Fanatics, while also appearing as the cover athlete for “NBA 2K27.”
But as his profile and earning power continue to grow, the 22-year-old says money is no longer the deciding factor when choosing who he works with.
“There was a dimension of money in the past,” Wembanyama said, according to Weiss. “Not anymore. Even if I said that, I’ve refused plenty, much, much more money than I’ve made for things that were not to my values. And now, I want to promote things that have a good impact, have a good influence with who I can share messages and values.
“Obviously, we earn millions and millions, — this is not our biggest strength. Our biggest strength is inspiring. I want to inspire in a good way. That’s the strongest thing I can do.”
His comments come as betting and prediction market partnerships become increasingly visible around the NBA.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has partnered with prediction market company Kalshi, while LeBron James has previously worked with DraftKings and recently agreed to a deal with Polymarket.
Kevin Durant’s Boardroom also has a long-standing partnership with FanDuel, while Nikola Jokic is an ambassador for Serbian betting company Superbet.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed the growing connection between players and prediction markets earlier this year, specifically discussing Antetokounmpo’s involvement with Kalshi.
“We currently are looking at prediction markets in the same way as sports betting companies. In the case of Giannis, it’s a minuscule investment … We need a better handle on all the activity happening out there,” Silver said, according to Yahoo Sports’ Kelly Iko.
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