Jaden Ivey will receive his full $10.1 million salary after being waived by the Chicago Bulls for “conduct detrimental to the team.”
Ivey, 24, was let go after criticizing the NBA’s Gay Pride Month celebrations. The devout Christian referred to the league’s Pride celebrations as “unrighteousness.”
When one Instagram user told Ivey they were praying for him, Ivey responded, “God does not hear your Prayer if you are a sinner.”
Players and fans weighed in on Ivey’s punishment, with many saying the Bulls should have provided mental health resources for Ivey.
Sports journalist Sage Steele tweeted on Tuesday:
“IF it’s true that Jaden Ivey has mental health issues, wouldn’t it be best for @chicagobulls & the league to HELP him vs cut him? Offer him resources? Just like the @nba did for Ben Simmons, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Love & so many others. WHY ARE THE RULES DIFFERENT FOR JADEN?”
IF it’s true that Jaden Ivey has mental health issues, wouldn’t it be best for @chicagobulls & the league to HELP him vs cut him? Offer him resources? Just like the @nba did for Ben Simmons, DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Love & so many others. WHY ARE THE RULES DIFFERENT FOR JADEN? ?
— Sage Steele (@sagesteele) March 31, 2026
Bulls insiders say Ivey was waived because he constantly preached the Gospel to his teammates and Bulls staffers. He also allegedly asked reporters whether they were fornicators or sinners.
Bulls head coach Billy Donovan explained the team’s decision to waive Ivey.
“I think there’s a certain level of standards and expectations that are here,” he said.
“I mean, we have people from all different walks of life working in the building and players from all different walks of life, right? So, the first thing is, everybody comes with their own personal experiences. But one is, we’ve got to all be professional. I think there’s got to be a high level of respect for one another, and we got to help each other and then be accountable to those standards.”
Ivey was in the final season of a 4-year rookie contract that he signed after the Detroit Pistons drafted him with the No. 5 pick in 2022.
The Bulls acquired Ivey from the Pistons in February ahead of this season’s trade deadline.
Ivey’s wife, Caitlyn, apparently took their children and left him. He complained that she won’t answer his text messages.
NEW: Emmanuel Acho shames Jaden Ivey after he was cut from the Bulls for calling out unrighteousness in the NBA.
“There is freedom of speech, but freedom of speech does not necessarily mean freedom of consequence…”
“He was s*xually m*lested as a child. He had a p*rn addiction… pic.twitter.com/M9p391vcAh
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 31, 2026
