Jaden Ivey claims Jesus 'healed' his knee before Bulls shutdown, eventual exit

Ivey said he felt healthy enough to play, but the Bulls medical staff disagreed and shut him down for the season.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 9:56pm

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Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey claimed in a recent podcast appearance that he felt Jesus had healed his surgically repaired left knee after he banged it into a teammate during rehab. However, the Bulls' medical staff ultimately disagreed with Ivey's self-assessment and decided to shut him down for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.

Why it matters

Ivey's comments highlight the complex dynamic between player self-assessment, team medical staff, and religious beliefs when it comes to injury recovery and return-to-play decisions in professional sports. The Bulls' decision to override Ivey's personal belief in divine healing raises questions about how teams balance player autonomy with medical expertise.

The details

After being traded to the Bulls from the Detroit Pistons at the trade deadline, Ivey only played four games for Chicago before suffering a setback when he banged his left knee into teammate Leonard Miller during rehab. Ivey claimed he then felt the knee had been healed by Jesus and that he was ready to return to play, but the Bulls' medical staff ordered an MRI and ultimately decided to shut him down for the rest of the season.

  • Ivey was traded to the Bulls at the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
  • Ivey only played 4 games for the Bulls before suffering a setback and banging his knee.
  • Ivey claimed Jesus had healed his knee in a recent podcast appearance.

The players

Jaden Ivey

A guard for the Chicago Bulls who was traded from the Detroit Pistons at the 2026 NBA trade deadline.

Leonard Miller

A teammate of Jaden Ivey on the Chicago Bulls.

Chicago Bulls

The NBA team that traded for Jaden Ivey at the 2026 trade deadline and ultimately shut him down for the season due to his knee injury.

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What they’re saying

“I said, 'I'm ready. Jesus healed my knee,'”

— Jaden Ivey, Chicago Bulls guard

What’s next

The Bulls will continue to monitor Ivey's recovery and make a determination on his status for the start of the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Ivey's claim of divine healing highlights the complex intersection of personal religious beliefs, player autonomy, and team medical decisions in professional sports. This case raises broader questions about how teams balance these factors when managing player injuries and recoveries.