© Benny Sieu/Imagn
Did Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo intentionally manufacture rumors of his own potential move at the trade deadline to intentionally manipulate markets on Kalshi?
That’s what some are asking after the Greek superstar announced his partnership with the prediction (don’t call it gambling!) market site on Friday, just a day after the NBA trade deadline.
We all on @Kalshi now pic.twitter.com/cCNGxfLWO8
— Giannis Antetokounmpo (@Giannis_An34) February 6, 2026
Giannis Kalshi Partnership Creates Massive Conflict Of Interest
“Everyone is online. The internet is full of predictions. I decided it was time to make some of my own. Today, I’m joining Kalshi as a shareholder. We all on Kalshi now,” Antetokounmpo posted on X.
Of course, as sportsbooks and “prediction markets” become more and more pervasive in the world of sports, fans continue to worry about the integrity of the sports themselves.
Leagues partnering with these sites is dubious enough as is. But when individual athletes begin to invest in the companies, it becomes a remarkably large conflict of interest.
Antetokounmpo’s announcement comes just days after Kalshi users bet a total of $23M as to whether or not/where he would be traded in recent days.
“It really is amazing how basically every single sports league has taken a long look at itself in the mirror and decided what it needs to do is make it impossible for anyone with a brain to think things on the level ever again,” one fan posted. “Their goal is to make their fans feel like chumps.”
In theory, Kalshi should never be able to take any bets/predictions related to Antetokounmpo or games he plays in while he maintains a stake in the company.
But the site is seemingly entirely unregulated. So there’s nothing stopping them from doing so.
It is, however, now nearly impossible for fans to follow Antetokounmpo without being deeply skeptical of every move he makes.