Chicago Bulls Part Ways with Jaden Ivey

The Chicago Bulls have released guard Jaden Ivey after he posted a video ranting about religion and other sensitive topics, which attracted criticism aimed at the NBA.

The announcement came on Monday, with the team citing his conduct as detrimental to their values.

Ivey’s controversial video, shared Monday morning, accused the league of, in his words, celebrating an “injustice” during pride month. He expressed frustration over the NBA’s celebrations and the implications he saw in them.

In the video, he questioned, “The world can declare itself LGBTQ, right?” He continued, “They proclaim it Pride Month and the NBA. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Let’s join Pride Month to celebrate injustice.’ Why can’t one speak justice?”

Ivey has previously shared videos using strong language and has mentioned struggling with depression. In a separate video, he labeled Catholicism a “false religion,” specifically bringing up concerns regarding his mother, Neele Ivey, who is the head coach of the women’s basketball team at the University of Notre Dame, a Catholic institution.

Before being traded to the Bulls in a three-team deal that involved the Detroit Pistons and the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ivey was seen as a bright prospect. He had been selected fifth overall in the 2022 NBA Draft and, despite a strong start, his performance seemed to decline this season, relegating him to the bench before the trade.

During his brief stint with the Bulls, Ivey played in only four games, averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, but never quite found his form.

It’s been a rocky path for the young player, and it’s hard to say what the future holds following these recent events.