Prediction: There’s No Going Back After High-Profile Partnership Between Polymarket & LeBron

NBA legend LeBron James became the latest pro athlete to align with a prediction market when he joined forces with Polymarket early this month.

These deals are becoming more commonplace as prediction markets rise in prominence. His Polymarket ad notably features a plethora of sports legends, too. Alphabetically, speaking, they include:

• Sue Bird
• Reggie Bush
• Derek Jeter
• Eli Manning
• Rajon Rondo
• Richard Sherman

James, who previously pimped DraftKings Sportsbook, will now make his weekly NFL picks on Polymarket. Just three years ago, James spoke out against the effect that online sportsbooks were having on the game.

“It’s kind of taken some of the integrity out of the game because people are kind of really only caring about the betting,” James said at the time.

His two-year deal with Polymarket is reportedly worth $8 million. As always, money talks and BS walks.

The fact that so many sports stars (and other celebs such as Spike Lee) were willing to promote Polymarket further cemented its growing status in mainstream America. However, that didn’t prevent significant backlash after the James-Polymarket deal was announced.

Polymarket Punches Back With LeBron Deal

Inking James et al was a coup for Polymarket, whose rival Kalshi has largely overshadowed it in terms of valuation, volume, and athlete partnerships. NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s deal with Kalshi included an ownership stake.

Pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau and Lionel Messi also served as Kalshi brand ambassadors this summer.

Kalshi recently announced agreements with five Major League Baseball teams, including the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants. Curiously, Polymarket was named MLB’s exclusive Official Prediction Market Exchange back in March. The end result of all these agreements is further validation for prediction markets at large.

What Happens If Prediction Markets Lose Sports?

The legal battle between prediction markets and states shows no signs of abating. But what happens to these deals with leagues, teams, and athletes if the Supreme Court rules against sports event contracts in the future?

Perhaps LeBron will then help Polymarket users make picks on the average rainfall in Philadelphia, home of his newest NBA team, the 76ers. DeChambeau can always tutor Kalshi users on when to bet that proof of aliens will exist after his bizarre UFO spot for the company.

Prediction markets will still exist if contracts for sports events are banned. But they will be a shell of what they’ve become with them. Whether you love or loathe Kalshi and/or Polymarket, prediction markets deserve credit for using these deals to aid their legal battles. They only add to their legitimacy.

The notion that prediction markets will become too big to fail might already be true. When the biggest sports star in America attached his name to Polymarket, it could have become a fait accompli.

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