'Absolutely Not': Victor Wembanyama Won't Put His Name on a Betting Site

Victor Wembanyama was asked Thursday whether he'd ever promote a sports betting website. He didn't need time to think about it.

Absolutely not. I will never do that. Honestly, I think it's very sad to see some players promote it. Everybody does whatever they want, but without me.

The Spurs star said money used to factor into his endorsement choices, but doesn't anymore. He's turned down "much, much more money than I've made" for deals that didn't fit his values, he said.

"Obviously, we earn millions and millions. This is not our biggest strength," Wembanyama said. "Our biggest strength is inspiring. I want to inspire in a good way."

He's in the minority

Plenty of his peers have gone the other way. LeBron James moved from DraftKings to Polymarket in September. Kevin Durant works with FanDuel and has invested in Kalshi, and Giannis Antetokounmpo became a Kalshi shareholder in February. Nikola Jokic became Superbet's first brand ambassador in Serbia in 2023.

Under the NBA's labor deal, sportsbooks and prediction markets are treated the same for player partnerships. Players can't promote betting on anything NBA-related, but they can endorse these companies and hold small equity stakes in them.

That makes Wembanyama's stance a choice, not a rule. Coming from one of the most marketable young players in the world, it's a choice that will be noticed.