Victor Wembanyama has drawn a clear line against sports betting partnerships, saying he will never endorse gambling companies. The San Antonio Spurs' 22-year-old cornerstone made the remarks at the team's practice on Thursday, responding to a question from San Antonio Express-News columnist Mike Finger about whether he would ever partner with a sports betting firm.
“Absolutely not,” Wembanyama said. “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.”
A stance that stands out in today's NBA
Wembanyama's rejection comes as the NBA displays ads for both FanDuel and DraftKings, and broadcasts betting odds during games. Until recently, many NBA games streamed exclusively on FanDuel Sports Network. His peers have embraced the industry: LeBron James is the new face of Polymarket, Kevin Durant reads FanDuel odds and invests in Kalshi, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is a Kalshi shareholder.
Wembanyama's emphatic refusal is notable in a climate where most basketball podcasts rely on gambling companies for financial support, and where reputational damage from such partnerships rarely seems to last. James's Polymarket partnership was immediately unpopular, but it was not raised at the Philadelphia 76ers' media day.
More than a PR move
Wembanyama's stance extends beyond betting. Asked about the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in January, he said, “Yeah, PR has tried, but I’m not going to sit here and give some politically correct [answer]. Every day I wake up and see the news, and I’m horrified. I think it’s crazy that some people might make it seem like or sound like the murder of civilians is acceptable.”
His comments come after a difficult playoff run, during which he threw a pass off a teammate's back in a decisive moment, missed two free throws in a game where the Spurs failed to consolidate a 29-point lead, and was ejected for elbowing Naz Reid in the neck. Despite the on-court struggles, his clear-eyed view of the real world may help restore his standing with fans who universally abhor the omnipresence of sports betting.
