Bulls Cut Jaden Ivey After Controversial Social Media Posts

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan explains the team's decision to waive the young guard.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:35am

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A cubist-inspired painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in navy, green, and orange hues, conceptually representing the disruption and fragmentation caused by a player's controversial social media comments.A fragmented, abstract illustration captures the turbulence surrounding a young NBA player's controversial social media posts and the team's swift decision to part ways.Chicago Today

The Chicago Bulls have decided to part ways with guard Jaden Ivey after he made controversial social media posts targeting the LGBTQ community and the NBA's Pride Month celebrations. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan spoke to the media, stating that the organization has certain standards it wants to uphold and that Ivey's comments were not professional or respectful towards others.

Why it matters

The NBA has a strong stance against any league personnel sharing bigoted views, and the Bulls acted quickly to distance themselves from Ivey's comments. This decision could impact Ivey's future in the league, as teams may be hesitant to sign him until he fully apologizes and shows he has learned from this incident.

The details

Donovan confirmed that the team felt Ivey's social media posts were unacceptable and did not align with the organization's values of being 'hard-working, accountable, respectful and professional.' The Bulls had acquired Ivey in a trade with the Detroit Pistons earlier in the season, hoping he could be a young talent to build around. However, his controversial comments were enough for the team to cut ties with him immediately.

  • On March 31, 2026, the Chicago Bulls waived Jaden Ivey.

The players

Billy Donovan

The head coach of the Chicago Bulls who addressed the media about the team's decision to waive Jaden Ivey.

Jaden Ivey

The 24-year-old guard who was recently acquired by the Chicago Bulls but was waived after making controversial social media posts targeting the LGBTQ community.

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What they’re saying

“We've got people from all different backgrounds inside of the organization. This goes for players and coaches and everybody in that building. It's always been from the top, we're all going to work well together. We are all going to take care of and accept each other. We're going to be hard-working, accountable, respectful and professional.”

— Billy Donovan, Head Coach, Chicago Bulls

“I know some of the things that were put out there. I think it's a situation for him where it's on his own personal Instagram. I don't want to get into what he put out there but certainly I hope for him, he's okay. Organizationally, there's certain standards I think we want to have as an organization and live up to those each and every day.”

— Billy Donovan, Head Coach, Chicago Bulls

What’s next

Jaden Ivey must fully apologize for his comments and prove that he has learned from this incident if he hopes to get another chance in the NBA. Teams will likely be hesitant to sign him until he can demonstrate that he is no longer going to cause similar controversies.

The takeaway

The Bulls' swift decision to part ways with Jaden Ivey over his controversial social media posts highlights the NBA's zero tolerance policy for any bigoted views expressed by league personnel. This incident could significantly impact Ivey's future in the NBA, as teams may be unwilling to take a chance on him until he can fully address and move past this controversy.