There was a time when NBA stars talked about sports betting as a personal choice. Now, betting has become a bigger part of professional sports. Victor Wembanyama, however, has made his position very clear. 

The San Antonio Spurs star was recently asked if he would ever promote a sports betting company. His answer was not just a simple no. Wembanyama said he wants nothing to do with that business. He also said he feels disappointed when he sees other players promoting it. Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News shared Wembanyama’s response on X after asking him the question. 

“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,” Victor Wembanyama told Mike Finger. 

Wembanyama’s first sentence makes his position clear. He does not want to promote a sports betting company now or in the future. But his comment about other players is also important. He called it “very sad” to see some players promote betting. At the same time, he accepted that other people can make their own choices.

While Wembanyama did not name James, the timing and context of his comments create an implicit contrast with James’s recent Polymarket partnership.

LeBron’s most notable sports-betting partnership came with DraftKings. In February 2024, DraftKings announced a multi-year endorsement deal with James. The partnership focused on American football and major events rather than NBA betting.

The deal came after changes to the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement allowed players to promote sports betting companies in certain situations involving non-NBA sports.

That DraftKings partnership later ended. In September 2026, James started promoting Polymarket, a prediction-market platform. He shared a post on social media showing his visit to Polymarket’s headquarters and described the relationship as a partnership.

The campaign was expected to focus on football. According to Brad Botkin’s report on CBS Sports, the deal was worth around $15 million per year. 

This creates a clear contrast between two major NBA stars. James has worked with companies in this space, while Wembanyama says he wants no part of promoting sports betting.

LeBron James is not the only major NBA name connected to the betting business.

Kevin Durant has also had a strong connection with FanDuel through Boardroom, the sports-media company he started with Rich Kleiman.

In 2022, Boardroom announced a multi-year partnership with FanDuel. The deal made FanDuel the exclusive sports-betting and gaming partner of Durant and Kleiman’s sports-media company.

The connection between sports and betting also goes beyond the NBA. Former players have also worked with betting companies. Nikola Jokic, for example, became a brand ambassador for Serbian betting company Superbet in 2023.

As a result, betting has become a bigger part of the professional sports business. But not every player is comfortable with that connection.

On the other hand, there are players like Victor Wembanyama who are against sports betting platforms. 

Michael Porter Jr. has been one of the most outspoken NBA players on the issue. In 2025, he said sports betting had hurt the way people enjoy and view basketball. 

Kyrie Irving has also spoken about the issue. In 2023, he said sports betting had sometimes taken the purity and fun out of basketball. He also expressed concern about how gamblers treat players when their performances affect bets.

Then there is Jaylen Brown, who has focused more on player protection. In 2025, Brown said players weren’t given enough consideration as the current betting environment developed. He pointed to the abuse and pressure players can face from gamblers. 

Wembanyama’s position is part of this larger NBA discussion. But his approach is more personal and direct. He is not calling for new rules or asking for more protection. He is simply making his own choice clear: he does not want to promote sports betting.

Betting is now a visible part of the sports business. Wembanyama’s comments show that not every NBA star wants to take part in that side of the industry. At the same time, players such as Porter Jr., Irving, and Brown have raised different concerns about how betting affects athletes and the way fans interact with basketball.

As sportsbooks and prediction markets continue to grow around professional sports, players will have to decide how they want to deal with this business. As more NBA stars face the choice between commercial opportunities and concerns about betting’s impact on the sport, how many will ultimately take Wembanyama’s side? What do you think? Let us know in the comments.