LeBron James, the record-breaking basketball player, made headlines this week for something other than his performance on the court. Surprisingly, the news does not revolve around the NBA either. Instead, James announced his upcoming collaboration with DraftKings to provide weekly football betting tips. This announcement comes after he faced significant criticism this season for his NFL picks.
During this season, James initiated his own personal segment where he shared his betting advice with his followers on X and Instagram. Unfortunately, the results were mixed, and his online recommendations often became the subject of ridicule. Starting in late September, James began sharing his “locks” for Week 4, expressing his love for football and his intention to provide his picks on IG live before the games began.
In one post, he mentioned that he had already started the week with a successful pick in the Thursday night matchup, which he had not advertised online. This led to an influx of ‘LeBron Lies’ memes resurfacing. The picks that were made public resulted in disastrous outcomes, with both bets losing by a combined 49 points. Despite this, during his IG Live session that weekend, James actually achieved an 8-4-1 record ATS, but his embarrassing failures with the Pittsburgh and Cleveland picks overshadowed this success.
Undeterred, James made another attempt in Week 5, choosing the Commanders to defeat the Bears. However, Washington ended up losing by 20 points. He did redeem himself in Week 6 by correctly picking the Ravens over the Titans, with Baltimore winning and covering a one-score spread.
While it appears that James’s weekly NFL picks dwindled once the NBA season began, it is expected that he will resume providing them year-round next year. The partnership with DraftKings promises to make football season even more exciting for fans, and James is eager to share his expertise in the realm of football betting.
LeBron James has partnered with DraftKings to produce his weekly football predictions and other content as a representative for the company. This collaboration follows in the footsteps of other athletes, most notably Rob Gronkowski, who is gearing up for his second Super Bowl appearance with rival FanDuel.
Jason Robbins, the CEO of DraftKings, expressed his excitement for the future in a message on X. He stated, “We are thrilled to welcome LeBron James, one of the most influential and greatest athletes of all time, to the DraftKings family. It is an absolute honor and privilege to work with such a passionate sports fan who shares our competitive mindset. Together, we will provide exciting engagement opportunities to our customers and his devoted fanbase for years to come.”
Fans wasted no time in sharing their thoughts on the news. One fan questioned the need for LeBron’s NFL picks, while another marveled at how LeBron has turned his Instagram Live NFL predictions into a lucrative partnership with DraftKings. However, there were also skeptics who doubted the value of following LeBron’s NFL picks for serious bettors.
As we look ahead to the next season, it will be intriguing to see how LeBron James performs. Hopefully, he can navigate the online trolling and generate profits for his followers.
According to the Source brobible.com