LeBron James officially joins DraftKings ... but only to make football picks?
LeBron James has signed a deal with DraftKings to make football picks.
We’ve certainly come a long ways in our attitudes towards sports betting in the United States, with the latest example coming on Wednesday morning when Los Angeles Lakers star (and current player) LeBron James announced on X that he would be joining DraftKings as a brand ambassador.
After all, it was only back in 2007 when an NBA referee (Tim Donaghy) fixed some games, giving a massive black eye to the league and its protection over the integrity of its games.
With the repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) by the Supreme Court in 2018, we’ve seen leagues partner with gambling companies and sports betting legal in 38 states.
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Let’s go! @DraftKings #DKPartner pic.twitter.com/kyNaq3WBZm
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 31, 2024
And now, the most famous basketball player on the planet has a deal with a sports betting company.
However, a DraftKings spokesperson confirmed to For The Win that James won’t be doing anything NBA-related for the company, instead focusing on giving out NFL picks — something he did for fun this past season on Instagram.
DraftKings CEO and co-founder Jason Robins said in a press release: “Welcoming one of the most influential and greatest athletes of all time, LeBron James, to the DraftKings family is an absolute honor and privilege. We look forward to working with a passionate sports fan who shares the same competitive mindset that echoes throughout the walls at DraftKings, while delivering exciting engagement opportunities to our customers and his loyal fanbase for years to come.”
The press release noted that LeBron would “help support key football initiatives and tentpole events through content creation, such as weekly football picks, and more.”