SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Chicago Bulls management released guard Jaden Ivey on Monday following controversial anti-LGBTQ statements and religious commentary he shared through Instagram videos.
In the social media posts, Ivey criticized the NBA’s support of Pride Month, stating: “They proclaim Pride Month in the NBA. They proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say come join us for Pride, 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?”
Bulls head coach Billy Donovan addressed the situation before Monday’s matchup against San Antonio, emphasizing that the team employs people from “all different walks of life” and that Ivey’s statements are inconsistent with organizational principles.
“Everybody comes with their own personal experiences, but one is we’ve got to all be professional,” Donovan explained. “I think there’s got to be a high level of respect for one another, and we’ve got to help each other and then be accountable to those standards.”
This season, Ivey has been open about his struggles with mental health issues, including depression. Recently, he began sharing extended religious commentary through Instagram videos.
In another post, Ivey questioned: “How is it when the gospel is preached that people hate it? That people don’t want to hear it? And they think it’s strange when someone preaches the gospel, the true gospel?”
The Bulls obtained Ivey through a multi-team transaction with Detroit on February 3rd. His contract was set to expire at season’s end.
Team officials had already ruled him out for the rest of the campaign last week due to ongoing left knee soreness that has kept him off the court since February 11th. Across 37 games this season, including four appearances with Chicago, he posted 8.5 points per game.
“I don’t want to get into what he put out there, but certainly, I hope for him he’s okay,” Donovan commented. “I’ve had conversations with Jaden and he’s always been about rehabbing his knee and trying to get on the court and wanting to play. But I think organizationally, there are certain standards we want to have as an organization and try to live up to those each and every day.”
