NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo joins Kalshi as an investor

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks announced Friday that he has joined prediction market Kalshi as a shareholder, becoming the first NBA player to invest directly in the company. “The internet is full of opinions. I decided it was time to make some of my own,” he wrote on social media. “Today, I’m joining Kalshi as a shareholder. We all on Kalshi now.”

The announcement drew pushback on social media. On Reddit, one user called it “literally a conflict of interest,” another described Kalshi as “cancerous,” and a third asked, “is this even allowed.”

The NBA’s recent collective bargaining agreement allows players to advertise and take stakes of up to 1% in sports betting companies, provided they do not promote league-related wagers.

Kalshi said it will partner with Antetokounmpo on marketing and live events. Under the company’s “strict terms of service that ban insider trading and market manipulation,” he will not be allowed to trade on markets related to the NBA.

United States, Milwaukee