Bulls Waive Jaden Ivey for 'Conduct Detrimental' After Anti-LGBTQ Rant Targeting NBA Stars

The Chicago Bulls have waived guard Jaden Ivey for "conduct detrimental to the team" following a series of controversial social media posts that included anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and inflammatory attacks on NBA superstars Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan.

The dramatic fall from grace concludes a turbulent month-long tenure in Chicago for the 24-year-old guard, who was acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline as the Bulls attempted to resurrect the career of the former fifth overall pick from the 2022 NBA Draft.

Ivey's dismissal stems directly from recent Instagram Live videos where he delivered religious-themed rants criticizing the NBA's Pride Month celebrations and questioning the faith of basketball's biggest names. ESPN's Shams Charania confirmed that the anti-LGBTQ comments were the primary catalyst for his release.

"They proclaim Pride Month in the NBA," Ivey stated in one of his social media broadcasts. "They say 'Come, join us for Pride Month.' To celebrate unrighteousness." The comments sparked immediate backlash across the basketball community and prompted the Bulls organization to explore what the Chicago Sun-Times described as an "exit strategy."

Following news of his release, Ivey doubled down on his controversial stance, posting another Instagram video where he specifically targeted three of the NBA's most iconic figures. "That's why you got Steph Curry...he don't know Jesus, and I pray he comes to the truth, that him & his family be saved in Jesus name," Ivey declared.

His attacks extended beyond Curry to encompass the league's greatest champions. "All them rings LeBron got, Michael Jordan got, all them people in the HOF who don't know Jesus Christ, it's not gonna matter on Judgment Day," Ivey continued, dismissing the achievements of basketball legends as spiritually meaningless.

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan addressed the situation directly, telling reporters that Ivey had failed to meet Chicago's organizational standards through his recent social media activity. The coach's comments underscored the severity of the situation and the team's unwillingness to tolerate such conduct.

Ivey's controversial religious evangelism began shortly after arriving in Chicago through a trade that sent Kevin Huerter to Detroit. Despite playing only four games before being sidelined with knee issues, Ivey quickly gained attention for off-court behavior rather than basketball performance.

In February, following a DNP decision, Ivey delivered an impromptu locker room sermon to reporters, declaring that "the old him was dead" and emphasizing spiritual priorities over basketball success. "No matter what or how many DNPs I don't get to play, no matter how many points I score, those things are a temporary thing," Ivey proclaimed. "Jesus is eternal. He can free you from all sins."

The former Purdue standout's NBA career has been hampered by recurring injury problems that have limited his explosive athleticism. He suffered a broken left fibula in January 2025 while with Detroit, underwent season-ending surgery, and has struggled with knee issues that forced him to miss Detroit's first fifteen games this season.

Donovan acknowledged that Ivey's physical capabilities had noticeably diminished following his injury history. "You could just see he wasn't like stopping, starting," the coach observed. "He didn't have that explosiveness that you saw when you watched him play."

The timing of Ivey's inflammatory comments proved particularly damaging, as the NBA has made inclusivity and LGBTQ+ support central to its social initiatives. His direct criticism of Pride Month celebrations represented a fundamental conflict with league values and corporate partnerships.

In his post-release Instagram video, Ivey maintained his position despite the professional consequences. "All I'm preaching is about Jesus Christ and they waived me," he declared. "They say I'm crazy, I'm psycho...God let these things happen for a reason."

The Bulls' swift action reflects the modern NBA's zero-tolerance approach to discriminatory rhetoric and conduct that conflicts with league policies. Chicago's decision to release a former top-five pick after just one month demonstrates the seriousness of Ivey's violations.

Ivey's career trajectory represents a cautionary tale about how off-court behavior can derail professional athletic careers. Once considered among basketball's brightest young prospects, his combination of injury struggles and controversial public statements has effectively ended his NBA tenure.

The incident raises broader questions about social media responsibility for professional athletes and the intersection of personal religious beliefs with corporate employment in major sports leagues.