Chicago Bulls Release Former Lottery Pick After Anti-LGBTQ Rants

Jaden Ivey's bizarre online comments become too much for the team to handle.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:48pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the fragmented movements and perspectives of a basketball game, rendered in a palette of navy, green, and orange, conceptually representing the divisive issues surrounding Jaden Ivey's release from the Chicago Bulls.The release of Jaden Ivey by the Chicago Bulls over his controversial anti-LGBTQ comments exposes the complex tensions between player expression and team values in the modern NBA.Chicago Today

The Chicago Bulls have released former NBA lottery pick Jaden Ivey following a series of controversial online rants, including comments criticizing the league's Pride Night celebrations. Ivey, who was acquired by the Bulls in a trade last month, had struggled with injuries and mental health issues in recent years after a promising start to his career with the Detroit Pistons.

Why it matters

Ivey's release highlights the challenges professional sports teams face in balancing player freedom of expression with maintaining a positive team culture, especially around sensitive social and political issues. The Bulls' decision also raises questions about how the league and teams support players dealing with mental health and injury setbacks.

The details

After being acquired by the Bulls via trade last month, Ivey appeared in only four games for the team before being shut down for the season due to a left knee injury. On Monday, Ivey took to social media to criticize the NBA's Pride Night celebrations, calling them 'unrighteous'. By that afternoon, the Bulls had released the former lottery pick, who was set to become a free agent this offseason.

  • Ivey was traded to the Chicago Bulls at the NBA trade deadline in February 2026.
  • Ivey appeared in 4 games for the Bulls before being shut down for the season due to a left knee injury.
  • On Monday, March 30, 2026, Ivey posted his controversial comments criticizing the NBA's Pride Night.
  • Also on Monday, March 30, 2026, the Chicago Bulls released Jaden Ivey.

The players

Jaden Ivey

A former NBA lottery pick who was acquired by the Chicago Bulls in a trade last month, but was released following a series of controversial online comments criticizing the league's Pride Night celebrations.

Chicago Bulls

The NBA franchise that released Jaden Ivey after his anti-LGBTQ social media posts became too much for the team to handle.

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What they’re saying

“Ivey called out the NBA for celebrating 'Pride Night' and calling out its 'Unrighteousness'.”

— Jaden Ivey, Former Chicago Bulls Player

What’s next

Ivey will now become a free agent this offseason, and it remains to be seen if any other NBA teams will be willing to sign him given the controversy surrounding his recent comments.

The takeaway

Jaden Ivey's release by the Chicago Bulls underscores the delicate balance professional sports teams must strike between supporting player expression and maintaining a positive team culture, especially around sensitive social issues. This case highlights the challenges teams face in handling players dealing with mental health and injury struggles.