Victor Wembanyama says NO to promoting sports betting: "I will never do that"

Victor Wembanyama is clear that he does not want to associate his image with sports betting. The star of the San Antonio Spurs was asked this Thursday, after a training camp workout, whether he would ever be willing to promote a sports betting site, and his answer was firm.

“Absolutely not. I will never do that. Honestly, I think it's very sad to see some players promoting it. Everyone can do what they want, but not with me,” Wembanyama stated.

The Frenchman explained that his criteria for choosing brands to work with have changed over time. Money, in his words, is no longer the determining factor when it comes to accepting or rejecting a collaboration.

“In the past, there was an economic dimension. Not anymore. Even if I said that, I have rejected much, much more money than I have earned for things that were not aligned with my values,” explained the Spurs player.

“I want to promote things that have a positive impact”

Wembanyama assured that he is currently looking to associate with brands and projects that allow him to convey messages and values he identifies with.

“Now I want to promote things that have a positive impact, that have a good influence, with whom I can share messages and values,” he noted.

The Frenchman also focused on the position that top athletes occupy and their ability to influence their followers. For Wembanyama, that influence represents a more important tool than the economic income he may obtain through certain commercial agreements.

“Obviously, we earn millions and millions. That is not our greatest strength. Our greatest strength is to inspire. I want to inspire in a good way. That is the strongest thing I can do,” he affirmed.

Other NBA players do promote betting

Wembanyama's stance contrasts with that of some of the NBA's top stars, who currently have agreements with sports betting companies or prediction platforms.

LeBron James transitioned from working with DraftKings to working with Polymarket in September. Kevin Durant maintains a relationship with FanDuel and is also an investor in Kalshi, while Giannis Antetokounmpo became a shareholder in Kalshi in February.

“The Internet is full of opinions. I decided it was time to have some of my own. Today I join Kalshi as a shareholder,” Antetokounmpo wrote in a post on X that he later deleted.

Nikola Jokic also has ties to the sector. In 2023, the three-time MVP became the first ambassador for the Superbet brand in Serbia.

NBA Regulations

The NBA's collective bargaining agreement establishes certain rules for players' relationships with sports betting operators and prediction markets. Players cannot promote bets related to any NBA market, although they can endorse sports betting companies and maintain certain limited stakes, always under established restrictions.

Wembanyama, for his part, will face his fourth season in the NBA after San Antonio reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.

The Frenchman comes from a historic season individually. The 22-year-old player became the first unanimous winner of the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award after leading the league in blocks for the third consecutive season.

Wembanyama also finished third in the voting for last season's MVP and enters his new season as one of the key figures of a Spurs team that is once again among the leading teams in the NBA.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Victor Wembanyama dice NO a promocionar apuestas deportivas: “Nunca haré eso”