Celebrity Gambler: Draftkings Welcomes “King James” LeBron to their Court
By Thadeus Geodfrey
The Los Angeles Lakers super star LeBron James, popularly known as King James, has continued to expand his influence beyond the court by sealing partnership deals with renowned companies. The four-time champion recently announced in his X account that he has partnered with DraftKings, the second largest online gambling site in the United States. King James is a fan of Football, and his NFL picks on Instagram could have caught the attention of the sportsbook. He has millions of followers on social media, and the company believes his fans will continue investing in his NFL picks in the 2024 season. In this article, we will explore LeBron’s stats, his involvement with gambling, and the nature of his partnership with DraftKings.
LeBron James: The Player and the Brand
LeBron James started playing NBA in 2003 and has since signed multimillion-dollar partnership deals with some of the biggest companies in the United States. Below is a table showing some of his personal information, endorsements, and achievements:
| Real Name | LeBron Raymone James Sr |
| Nick Name | King James |
| Birthday | 30th December 1984 (Age 39 years) |
| Born | Akron, Ohio, United States |
| Citizenship | USA |
| Spouse | Savanna James |
| Children | Bronny James, Bryce James, Zhuri Nova |
| Career | Professional Basketball Players |
| Net Worth | Approximately USD1 Billion (2024) |
| Current NBA Team | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Position in the Team | Small Forward, Power Forward |
| Leisure Activities | Reading, listening to music, road trips |
| Teammates | Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard, etc |
| Achievements | Won NBA championships four times: Miami Heat (2012 and 2013), Cleveland Cavaliers (2016), Los Angeles (2020) |
| Endorsements | DraftKings, Nike, Beats, Crypto.com, AT &T, McDonald’s, Pepsi |
| Investments | Fenway Sports Group, Blaze Pizza, Spring Hill Company |
| Favorite Football League | National Football League (NFL) |
| Number of Followers on Istagram | 160M |
| Number of Followers on X | 52.9M |
| Number of Followers on Facebook | 27M |
LeBron James and Gambling
LeBron James is a fan of NBA and NFL, but there is no clear information on whether he gambles or not. During the 2023 NFL season, James would only be seen going live on his Instagram account to give his NFL picks. He did this every week before the games started, with fans saying he only shared his expertise with those who wanted to listen.
The 39-year-old Basketball player, however, has been in the past allegedly being spotted gambling in Las Vegas during the NBA in-season tournament final. In a video posted on social media by a fan, King James is seen gambling in what looks like a private room at Wynn Casino. The video also shows a security guard approaching the fan and telling him that he cannot record LeBron because he is gambling. Lebron is also heard telling the security guard to check the recently deleted folder. The caption added to the short video shows that the Basketball player had $1 in Chips on the table.
In an interview conducted by federal agents in November 2021, Maverick Carter, who is a longtime manager and business partner of LeBron, admitted to betting on NBA. In his part, LeBron said that he didn’t know that his longtime manager placed bets on NBA. He further noted that Carter was not the target of the investigation, and federal agents were only investigating Wayne Nix, who was accused of operating an illegal sports betting ring.
More and more renowned athletes have in the recent past been involved with online casinos and online sports Betting, changing the public perception regarding online gambling. Most of the athletes are public figures trusted by millions of fans, and companies believe that partnering with such celebrities would increase their customer base. In other words, any engagement with a celebrity gambler is a marketing strategy, and companies have reaped a lot from it.
LeBron Partnership with DraftKings: A Closer Look
As part of the deal, LeBron James will work with DraftKings on various football initiatives, with a focus on Football Handicapping. He will achieve this by creating content on topics like weekly NFL picks. It is worth mentioning that NBA doesn’t allow Basketball players and coaches to publicly discuss matters related to betting on the league’s game. As a result, King James will not be covering NBA betting in his content.
More details about the deal, including financial transactions and the length of the partnership, have not been made public. In his statement, DraftKings CEO Jason Robins said, “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 sports fans who share the same competitive mindset that echoes throughout the wall at DraftKings while delivering exciting engagement opportunities to our customers and his loyal fanbase for years to come.”
DraftKings’ vision is to build the most trusted and most centric destination for gambling fans. And with LeBron James on board, we can confidently say that the partnership deal aligns perfectly with DrafKings’ goals. The Basketball player has a deep understanding of the NFL league, and it is pretty clear that a good number of his fans will benefit from his valuable insights. Additionally, the partnership could result in more betting bonuses for LeBron’s fans and attract more audiences, including the NBA market.
LeBron’s Influence on Betting Culture and Fan Engagement
LeBron’s partnership with DraftKings is not just about NFL picks; it is about changing the betting culture. For a long time, the majority of people have been considering sports betting as an activity that goes against moral values. However, with iconic basketball players like LebBron on board, the negative perception about sports betting is expected to change for the better. The collaboration is also expected to change how sports betting firms engage with their audience. By partnering with renowned athletes, DraftKings is setting a new standard for fan engagement in the online gambling industry.
It is worth noting that having a high-profile athlete associated with a sports betting site could bring both benefits and harm. The brighter side is that Iconic Athletes like LeBron have a vast knowledge of Football, meaning players may get helpful insights that could influence their betting strategies. Betting firms that have signed the deal also earn huge profits due to the large customer base. On the other hand, over-trusting high-profile athletes could lead to problem gambling among bettors. Some celebrities may also rule you into signing up with scammers.
Closing Thoughts: Beyond the Court
The collaboration between NBA superstar ReBron James and the leading sports betting firm DraftKings marks a significant milestone in the sports betting industry. The 39-year-old Basketball player is an all-time leading scorer, and many people know him for bagging four NBA championships. His partnership with the giant sportsbook will see him share valuable insights and picks on NFL, thanks to his deep knowledge and passion for Football. Moreover, the partnership is expected to change the sports betting culture for the better. A new standard for betting firms has also been set, and we will now start seeing sportsbooks engaging their fans in a better way. Be sure to check how this partnership will unfold and what its impact will be on the sports betting industry.
