NBA star LeBron James on Saturday announced a “partnership” with Polymarket, a controversial prediction-market gambling platform.
James, who recently signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, also had a gambling partnership with DraftKings Sportsbook. His endorsement deal with DraftKings expired earlier this summer, a source told to Front Office Sports.
DraftKings is a licensed sportsbook in Pennsylvania, while Polymarket is not.
James’ 14-second video didn’t reveal much about the relationship. Around eight hours after he or his team posted the video, it had been viewed more than 10 million times but had just 8,100 “likes” and had been widely criticized.
Many NBA fans and observers essentially called him a sellout to gambling companies.
Polymarket, like DraftKings, can be addictive and cause catastrophic financial losses when betting on sports. Polymarket allows users 18+, while DraftKings is 21+ in Pennsylvania.
James isn’t the first active NBA player to get in bed with a prediction market. Earlier this year, Giannis Antetokounmpo invested in Kalshi, another prediction market.
The NBA doesn’t have a league-level partnership with a prediction market.
For more reaction, watch GamblingHarm.org’s YouTube video below.
