San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wembanyama said he has no interest in promoting sports betting and criticized fellow NBA players who do.
Speaking to reporters during practice on Oct. 1, Wembanyama said he would “absolutely not” appear in an advertisement promoting gambling.
“Honestly, I think it’s very sad to see some players promote it, in my opinion,” Wembanyama said.
NBA players who have promoted online gambling include James Harden, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Lonzo Ball, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Players are prohibited from betting on the NBA or promoting NBA-specific gambling markets
Wembanyama’s comments come in the wake of multiple NBA gambling-related scandals in recent years.
‘Our Biggest Strength’
Wembanyama, one of the NBA’s most recognizable young stars, said professional athletes have tremendous influence.
“Obviously, we earn millions and millions of dollars, but it’s not our biggest strength,” he said. “Our biggest strength is inspiring, and we can inspire in a good or bad way, and I want to inspire in a good way.”
The French-born center said he wants to work with companies that have a positive influence and has previously rejected more lucrative endorsement opportunities that did not align with his values.
His current endorsement portfolio includes Nike, Louis Vuitton, 2K Sports, Fanatics, Barcode and Texas grocery chain H-E-B. The Fanatics partnership is unrelated to sports betting.
Sports Betting In NBA Culture
Wembanyama’s comments are notable because gambling companies have become integrated into professional sports through league partnerships and athlete endorsements. The NBA is no exception.
Commercial sports betting operators generated nearly $17 billion in U.S. revenue during 2025, according to the American Gaming Association.
That growth, which former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams described as the “new opioid crisis,” has raised questions about the extent to which athletes help normalize gambling.
Wembanyama appears committed to avoiding the sector.
Image by Pierre Berendes via Wikimedia Commons
