Victor Wembanyama rejects partnerships with betting platforms and criticizes stars who promote them

French basketball player Victor Wembanyama said Thursday that he will not enter into partnerships with sports betting sites, criticizing the involvement of some NBA stars in the industry. The San Antonio Spurs player made the remarks after a preseason practice, as the market for betting and prediction platforms continues to expand in American sports.

“I will never do that. Honestly, I find it very sad to see some players promoting this,” Wembanyama said, noting that every athlete is free to make their own decisions, but that he will not endorse such companies.

The statement came a week after LeBron James, a former ambassador for DraftKings, signed a contract with Polymarket. Kevin Durant is a FanDuel ambassador, while Giannis Antetokounmpo is a shareholder and marketing partner of Kalshi.

NBA regulations allow partnerships with betting operators and prediction platforms, but prohibit players from promoting gambling to the NBA audience.

Wembanyama, 22, recently signed a five-year, $252 million extension with the Spurs. He has partnerships with Nike and Louis Vuitton and says he now chooses his collaborations based on their positive impact and the values they can convey, rather than solely on financial gains.