LeBron James has announced that he is entering into a partnership with Polymarket. A social media post from Saturday morning indicates the new Philadelphia 76ers man appears to have been making some offseason acquisitions of his own.
The 14-second video shows LeBron entering the Polymarket HQ elevator and taking it to the ‘sports’ floor. The most famous man in basketball has come on board as part of a larger football-related campaign, with James a high-school football star in his own right at WR.
Why has Polymarket partnered with LeBron?
Prediction markets have been dominating the headlines for over a year now, as people across the US have embraced the ability to trade contracts on anything and everything. From sports and weather to politics and back again.
The two prediction market apps on the tip of everyone’s tongue have been Kalshi and Polymarket. Kalshi has been flexing their muscles all year long, announcing deals and collaborations with two-time U.S. Open champ Bryson DeChambeau, World Cup Winner Lionel Messi, and Miami Heat forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Well, Polymarket has struck back with their own basketball star, the NBA’s All-time leading scorer, four-time MVP, 22x All-Star, and three-time Olympic gold medalist LeBron James. A point made as ‘The Largest’ song, by BigXthaPlug, featured as all 6’9 of the forward stepped off the elevator.
Perhaps a nod to Polymarket’s own slogan as ‘the World’s largest prediction market,’ as they have been steadily spreading their reach this year. While Kalshi has focused on athletes, Polymarket has gone the other way, with partnerships on a larger scale. This includes teams and national leagues, including:
- New York Yankees
- New York Rangers
- MLB (Major League Baseball)
- NHL (National Hockey League)
- Soccer Leagues (MLS, Liga MX, La Liga, Serie A)
The Kalshi vs. Polymarket comparison is a useful read if you are choosing between the two biggest options on the market.
What does this mean for LeBron and the 76ers?
Nothing has been said as to what this might mean for LeBron and the 76ers yet, with James signing a two-year, $8 million contract with Philadelphia back in July. More announcements are expected in the coming week, but it is likely the NBA will have the final say.
The NFL and PGA Tour both do not allow players to endorse prediction markets, with Bryson escaping this as he currently stars on the LIV Golf tour. Despite these factors, Philly fans have one big factor working in their favor: Giannis has remained unscathed.
Despite the League’s rules restricting a player’s financial interests in any company that offers basketball-related wagering or similar products. Kalshi and Antetokounmpo’s team have widely publicized that he is barred from NBA-related markets.
Expect Polymarket and LeBron’s media team to do much the same, a distinction that should keep the four-time NBA Champion on the court. Many see this as Philadelphia’s year for a run, LeBron being a big part of their chances, as he fills out a stacked roster joining Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen Brown and Joel Embiid.
Staying healthy will be their only battle, as the NBA season is set to start in Oct. 20, with Philly priced as third-favorites for the NBA championship with Polymarket at $0.12.
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