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LeBron James Faces Backlash After Negative Gambling Comments Resurface

Philadelphia 76ers superstar LeBron James is no stranger to making controversial decisions, and he made another recently. James announced on Saturday that he was partnering with Polymarket, the controversial prediction market platform, and it would be an understatement to say that it rubbed many the wrong way.

James was criticized for promoting gambling, and some comments he made in November 2023 have now resurfaced.

“I mean, it’s weird that some of our regular fans that love the game kind of only care about a parlay now,” James said, via the Los Angeles Times. “I guess that’s the word everybody is using. It’s kind of taken some of the integrity out of the game because people are kind of really only caring about the betting.

“I mean, it’s always [happened],” James continued. “I mean, listen, people have been betting on games since Arnold Rothstein set the bet … on the World Series [in 1919]. Come on, come on. So, it’s been going on for years. But it’s legalized now. Is it legalized in every state now? The majority, right? I think it’s in 38-plus states. So, I mean, to each his own.”

This only made matters worse, with James getting even more backlash from fans.

“Fakest athlete ever. How do people cheer for this guy,” one fan struggled to understand how James has supporters.

“LeHypocrite,” a fan called out James for being a hypocrite.

“LeGrifter just moving around where the trends are,” one called James a grifter.

“LeBron admitting he has lost his integrity,” another believes James is showing he has no integrity.

“He’s an absolute fraud,” one fan called James a total fraud.

If James was a bit weirded out about how a growing number of fans only care about parlays, he probably shouldn’t have gotten in bed with these gambling companies. The 41-year-old has become one of the most notable gambling promoters in recent years.

Just months after making those comments, James, a billionaire, agreed to a deal with DraftKings to become a talent ambassador in January 2024. The 22-time All-Star reportedly signed a multi-year contract, which is said to have expired earlier in 2026. It sure didn’t take him long to hop on to another.

James isn’t the only notable name in the NBA with ties to these prediction markets. In February 2026, Miami Heat superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo announced he had joined Kalshi as a shareholder. Antetokounmpo was heavily criticized as well, but this could just be the new reality.

Now, this is all happening while former NBA player Terry Rozier is under investigation for gambling. We are also seeing more and more players getting harassed by fans over failed parlays, and this is only going to get worse.

Getting back to those comments, James made them after his friend and business partner, Maverick Carter, admitted to making illegal bets on NBA games. He said he wasn’t aware of those bets and added that the story only had legs because Carter was close to him.

James might have a similar opinion about all the outrage over him teaming up with Polymarket.

This article first appeared on Fadeaway World and was syndicated with permission.

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