The Chicago Bulls have officially severed ties with guard Jaden Ivey, waiving the 24-year-old on Monday following a series of controversial social media posts. The team cited “conduct detrimental to the team” as the primary reason for the release.
The roster move, announced via the Bulls’ official Instagram account on March 30, comes in the wake of a 42-minute video posted by Ivey. In the footage, the former top-five pick criticized the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month, labeling the league’s inclusive initiatives as a promotion of “unrighteousness.”
The controversy began Monday morning when Ivey shared a video addressing his followers. During the monologue, Ivey—who frequently highlights his religious faith in his digital presence—specifically targeted the league’s diversity efforts.
“They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA. They proclaim it,” Ivey stated in the video. “They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.’ They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it in the streets.”
Hours after the Bulls announced his waiver, Ivey moved to Instagram Live to defend his statements, questioning how expressing his religious convictions constituted conduct detrimental to the organization. “How is my conduct detrimental to the team? Because of what I believe? Because of what the truth is?” Ivey asked his audience.
While the Bulls’ official statement remained brief, head coach Billy Donovan addressed the media on Monday afternoon. Donovan steered the conversation toward player welfare and mental health, rather than the specific theology of Ivey’s comments.
“I think in this day and age, you have to be conscientious of all these guys may be going through things,” Donovan said. “I’m not passing judgment on what Jaden is or is not going through. But I do worry about that… Are we providing the resources to help them in any way we can?”
The move marks a swift and turbulent end to Ivey’s tenure in Chicago. Originally selected No. 5 overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ivey was acquired by the Bulls via trade on February 3.
His time on the court in Chicago was limited; he appeared in only four games before a knee injury sidelined him on March 26. With his release, the Bulls must now navigate the remainder of the season without a player once considered a key mid-season acquisition.
