The Chicago Bulls have made a decisive move late in the season, waiving guard Jaden Ivey over what the team described as conduct detrimental to the organisation.
The decision follows a series of social media videos posted by Ivey in recent weeks, where he spoke at length on religion and other topics. One video, posted Monday morning, directly criticised the NBA and its stance on Pride Month.
In the clip, Ivey said the league was celebrating “unrighteousness.”
“The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right?” Ivey said in the rant. “They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA. They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, ‘come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.’ They proclaim it. They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it in the streets. Unrighteousness. So how is it that one can’t speak righteousness? How are they to say that this man is crazy?”
Jaden Ivey calls out the NBA for celebrating Pride Month
“The world proclaims LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month—and the NBA does too. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month, to celebrate unrighteousness.’”
(@esidery)
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 30, 2026
The situation quickly escalated, leading to the Bulls’ decision to move on from the 24-year-old guard. While the franchise did not publicly expand on the internal details, the timing makes it clear the posts played a significant role.
Ivey’s release also comes amid broader personal challenges. He has previously opened up about dealing with depression, adding another layer to an already complex situation.
On the court, Ivey’s time in Chicago was brief.
The Bulls acquired him in a trade with the Detroit Pistons just last month, but he appeared in only four games before being ruled out for the remainder of the season with a left knee injury.
His recent injury struggles have been a recurring theme. After being selected with the No. 5 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Ivey showed flashes early in Detroit but was limited to just 30 games during the 2024–25 season due to knee issues, with further setbacks carrying into this year.
Contract uncertainty had already been building. Ivey did not reach an agreement on an extension with Detroit last offseason, setting him up to enter free agency this summer.
Now, his future becomes even more uncertain.
READ MORE: Warriors Eye Roster Reload With LeBron James & Kawhi Leonard