NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo joins Kalshi as an investor

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks announced on Friday that he has become a shareholder in prediction market platform Kalshi, marking the first time an active NBA player has invested directly in the company.

"The internet is full of opinions. I decided it was time to make some of my own," the two-time NBA MVP said in a post shared on social media. "Today, I'm joining Kalshi as a shareholder. We're all on Kalshi now."

The announcement quickly drew criticism across social media platforms. On Reddit, one user labelled the move as "literally a conflict of interest," while another described Kalshi as "cancerous." A third user questioned the investment's legitimacy, asking, "Is this even allowed?"

According to The Athletic, the NBA's most recent collective bargaining agreement permits players to advertise for and hold up to 1% ownership stakes in sports betting companies, provided they do not promote wagers tied directly to league-related outcomes.

Kalshi said it plans to collaborate with Antetokounmpo on marketing initiatives and live events. The company also noted that, in line with its "strict terms of service that ban insider trading and market manipulation," Antetokounmpo will be prohibited from trading in any markets connected to the NBA.