The Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo has become the first professional basketball player to join Kalshi as a shareholder.
Alongside the minority equity stake in the prediction markets provider, Antetokounmpo will partner with the company at live events and for marketing campaigns.
Widely regarded as one of the best players in the NBA, Antetokounmpo is nicknamed the “Greek Freak”, and was born in Athens to Nigerian parents.
As an active player in the NBA, Antetokounmpo will be forbidden from trading on markets related to the NBA, as per Kalshi’s strict terms of service that ban insider trading and market manipulation.
“Giannis is a legend,” said Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour, a Gaming Intelligence Hot 50 of 2026 honouree. “He’s exactly the type of long-term partner we want to align our growing brand with, and we couldn’t be happier he’s on board.”
Antetokounmpo added: “I love the Kalshi markets and have been checking them often recently. I like to win. It’s clear to me Kalshi is going to be a winner and I’m excited to be getting involved.”
Through his company, Ante Inc., Antetokounmpo has previous investments in several professional sports teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers and MLS side Nashville SC.
Last week, he also acquired a stake in Chelsea FC women’s team, the dominant force in English women’s football.
Antetokounmpo joins Kalshi investors including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm, and Coinbase Ventures.