MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant asked a judge to sign off on a ruling that would require a Memphis chicken wing chain to pay him hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

Court documents show that Morant agreed to a contract three years ago to promote Wing Guru in Memphis. But, 16 months later, he accused the chain of breach of contract. 

Morant and his attorneys claimed that Wing Guru stopped paying Morant after March 2022, but continued to use him to endorse the business. They also said that Wing Guru used Morant in advertising outside of Memphis more than a dozen times. 

Eventually, Morant’s team told Wing Guru in late 2022 to stop using his name or likeness in any way. But they said, even after terminating the deal, he kept showing up in Wing Guru promotions. They said that Wing Guru responded to Morant on Instagram by saying, “You guys will receive the entire $75K by Jan. 1st. Relax. Thanks for the understanding.” 

Morant said that he never got that money. Under the terms of the contract, the case went to an arbitrator. Records show that the arbitrator sided with Morant in July. She ordered Wing Guru to stop using the Grizzlies guard’s likeness and pay him $300,000 in compensation and other damages plus interest. 

A month later, the arbitrator also approved $65,000 more in interest and legal costs. 

Wing Guru had until late November to pay up or try to get the decision tossed out. But Morant’s lawyers said neither happened. In December, Morant’s attorneys filed a petition asking a Shelby County Chancery Court judge to confirm the arbitrator’s ruling and have Wing Guru pay up. 

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