Bulls Waive Jaden Ivey for 'Conduct Detrimental' After Anti-Gay Comments

The former first-round pick was released after making controversial religious statements on social media.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:06pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the silhouette of a basketball player broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in muted tones, conceptually representing the complex issues surrounding personal beliefs and professional conduct in the NBA.The complex intersection of personal beliefs and professional conduct in the NBA is illustrated through a fragmented, cubist-inspired depiction of a basketball player.Chicago Today

The Chicago Bulls have waived guard Jaden Ivey for 'conduct detrimental to the team,' shortly after the former first-round draft pick made anti-gay comments on Instagram Live. Ivey, who was acquired by the Bulls in a trade earlier this season, has been posting lengthy videos in recent days discussing his religious beliefs. The decision to release him came after one of these videos, in which Ivey criticized the NBA for 'proclaiming Pride Month' and celebrating 'unrighteousness'.

Why it matters

Ivey's dismissal highlights the challenges teams face in balancing players' personal beliefs with the need to maintain a professional and inclusive team environment. The situation raises questions about how the league and teams should handle players who express controversial views, especially those that could be seen as discriminatory.

The details

The Bulls acquired Ivey from the Detroit Pistons in a trade in February, but he had seen limited playing time due to injuries. After missing the team's game on February 19, Ivey gave an interview in which he spoke at length about his religious faith and beliefs. He has continued posting similar videos on Instagram in the weeks since, culminating in the comments that led to his release.

  • Ivey was waived by the Bulls on March 31, 2026.
  • Ivey made the controversial comments on Instagram Live on March 30, 2026.
  • The Bulls acquired Ivey in a trade on February 3, 2026.
  • Ivey missed the Bulls' game on February 19, 2026 and gave an interview discussing his religious beliefs.

The players

Jaden Ivey

A fourth-year NBA player who was recently waived by the Chicago Bulls for 'conduct detrimental to the team' after making anti-gay comments on social media.

Billy Donovan

The head coach of the Chicago Bulls, who addressed Ivey's situation with reporters.

Josh Giddey

A guard for the Chicago Bulls, who commented on the Ivey situation.

TreVeyon Henderson

A running back for the New England Patriots, who appeared to show support for Ivey on social media.

Mike Vrabel

The head coach of the New England Patriots, who commented on Henderson's social media post supporting Ivey.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I don't want to get into what he put out there, but certainly, I hope for him he's OK. I've had conversations with Jaden, and he's been always 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.”

— Billy Donovan, Head Coach, Chicago Bulls

“Obviously, the whole thing is kind of unfortunate in a way. I hope he gets the help he needs, whatever he's going through or not going through. I do really hope he gets it. It's not going to be with the Bulls anymore, but wherever it is, I hope he gets it.”

— Josh Giddey, Guard, Chicago Bulls

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

— TreVeyon Henderson

“We want to be inclusive. Everything we want to do [is] to provide an environment for people to want to feel comfortable, but also to share their personal beliefs. And then also, we represent the team. And we represent the organization.”

— Mike Vrabel, Head Coach, New England Patriots

What’s next

The Bulls have not indicated if they will pursue any further disciplinary action against Ivey, and it remains to be seen if any other NBA teams will consider signing him after his release.

The takeaway

Jaden Ivey's dismissal from the Chicago Bulls highlights the delicate balance teams must strike between respecting players' personal beliefs and maintaining a professional, inclusive team environment. This situation will likely prompt further discussion around how the NBA and its teams should handle controversial statements from players that could be seen as discriminatory.