Tristan Thompson’s push into the tech and crypto space has taken a legal turn. The former NBA champion has filed a lawsuit against World Mobile Group, alleging the company improperly terminated a lucrative endorsement agreement and continued using his name, image, and likeness after ending the partnership.
According to a complaint filed May 27 in Delaware’s Chancery Court, and obtained by Bloomberg Law, Thompson claims the U.K.-based company backed out of a deal that could have paid him as much as $2 million in WMTX cryptocurrency tokens over a two-year period.
Under the agreement, signed in May 2025, Thompson was expected to serve as a brand ambassador and public face of the company while receiving quarterly token distributions worth up to $1 million annually.
The dispute is particularly notable because Thompson was more than a celebrity endorser for World Mobile. Last year, the former Cleveland Cavaliers star publicly embraced a leadership role with the company, joining as Chief Digital Equity Officer and helping to promote its mission to expand internet access to underserved communities around the world.
In the lawsuit, Thompson argues he fulfilled his obligations by promoting the company on social media and participating in public appearances. He alleges that World Mobile later attempted to avoid making additional payments by fabricating a justification to terminate the agreement.
“To avoid paying the sums owed to Mr. Thompson, defendants purported to terminate the agreement for cause,” the complaint states. “But defendants had no grounds to terminate for cause under the agreement.”
Court filings indicate the conflict stems from a token distribution issue that surfaced in December 2025. According to Thompson, World Mobile informed him that it had accidentally transferred more WMTX tokens than intended.
The lawsuit says Thompson proposed “a reasonable resolution” by applying any excess amount toward a future quarterly payment. Three months later, the company allegedly issued a notice claiming material breach and terminated the agreement.
The complaint further argues that Thompson’s alleged failure to return the tokens and his sale of certain WMTX holdings did not constitute a breach of contract. “Defendants’ purported basis for termination ... does not constitute a material breach of the agreement,” the filing states.
Thompson is seeking unpaid compensation, damages, interest, and a court order preventing the company from continuing to use his NIL rights.
The case arrives as Thompson’s business interests have expanded well beyond basketball. In recent years, he has invested in the artificial intelligence company Anthropic and taken advisory roles with blockchain and health-tech ventures, including AxonDAO.
His work with World Mobile was part of a broader effort to establish himself in technology and digital infrastructure after a 13-year NBA career that included an NBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.
The lawsuit also lands against a difficult backdrop for the crypto market. WMTX, the token at the center of the dispute, has fallen dramatically since reaching its peak value in 2022, declining by roughly 95% according to market data.
Thompson argues the financial fallout is only part of the issue, claiming the company’s continued use of his identity creates ongoing harm. As the complaint states, “Monetary damages alone are inadequate to remedy the continuing harm to Mr. Thompson’s reputation, goodwill, and control over the commercial use of his identity.”
Representatives for Thompson and World Mobile had not publicly commented on the lawsuit at the time of publication.
