Wemby: 'Very sad' to see players endorse betting firms
- On Thursday, Oct. 1, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama told reporters he will not promote sports betting sites, saying "Absolutely not" and calling it "very sad to see some players promoting it."
- Several NBA peers currently promote betting platforms, including LeBron James, who partnered with Polymarket in September, Kevin Durant with FanDuel, and Giannis Antetokounmpo with Kalshi.
- Wembanyama explained he rejects lucrative endorsement deals misaligned with his values, prioritizing his role as an inspiration. "Obviously, we earn millions and millions," he said. "Our biggest strength is inspiring. I want to inspire in a good way."
- According to the American Gaming Association, sports betting revenue surged to $16.96 billion in 2025, a 22.8% year-over-year increase bolstered by 22% annual growth in online markets.
- Although NBA rules permit such partnerships, players are prohibited from promoting betting on markets related to the league. Wembanyama maintains his personal stance, prioritizing his influence as a role model.
17 Articles
17 Articles
While many NBA stars lend their images to sites, the Frenchman assures that he will never promote them. He prefers to "inspire" by his contracts with Nike or Louis Vuitton...
Victor Wembanyama, the French star of San Antonio Spurs, said on Thursday that he will not join the list of NBA superstars that promote sports betting companies, and stated that it is "very sad to see some players promoting them." Wemby's statements occur a week after LeBron James signed an agreement with the Polymarket forecasting market platform. James, four times champion of the American basketball league, had already been promoter of the dig…
SCAN SPORT - The star player of the Spurs assured that he would not join the cohort of stars lending their image to sports betting sites.
Radio France Internationale
France24Wemby: 'Very sad' to see players endorse betting firms
"Absolutely not," the San Antonio Spurs star told reporters after a training camp practice when asked if he would sign for a piece of the increasingly lucrative sports gambling pie. "I will never do that," he added. "Honestly, I think it's very sad to see some players promote it. Everybody does whatever they want, but without me." Wembanyama's remarks come a week after four-time NBA champion LeBron James, a former endorser of digital sports gamb…
'He just gets it': Victor Wembanyama praised for what he said about sports gambling
In a world where athletes and teams across the country have been accepting endorsement deals and partnerships with sportsbooks and prediction markets, San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama is taking another approach. During a press conference this week, Wembanyama made it clear that he has no intention of ever partnering with a sports betting platform Read more...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
