NBA Player Jaden Ivey Fired for Remarks Against LGBT Celebration

Ivey was waived by the Chicago Bulls after speaking out against the league's 'Pride Month' promotion.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 12:20am

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A cubist-style painting featuring a basketball player's body broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a color palette of navy, green, and orange, conveying a sense of conflict and fragmentation.A fragmented, cubist depiction of a basketball player's defiant stance, symbolizing the tensions between personal beliefs and professional obligations in the world of sports.Dallas Today

Chicago Bulls guard Jaden Ivey was fired from the team after making remarks criticizing the NBA's promotion of 'Pride Month' as a celebration of 'unrighteousness.' Ivey was seen street preaching after being waived, quoting from the Sermon on the Mount and calling on people to 'repent of sin' and 'believe the gospel.' The incident has drawn praise from some Christian leaders who commended Ivey for standing up for his beliefs, even at the cost of his NBA career.

Why it matters

Ivey's case highlights the growing tensions between religious beliefs and LGBTQ+ advocacy in professional sports, as athletes increasingly face pressure to publicly support causes that may conflict with their personal convictions. This raises questions about the boundaries of free speech and religious freedom for athletes.

The details

In a video stream on Instagram, Ivey said the NBA's 'Pride Month' promotion was a celebration of 'unrighteousness.' After being waived by the Bulls, a video of Ivey street preaching went viral, showing him quoting the Sermon on the Mount and calling on people to 'repent of sin' and 'believe the gospel.' Evangelical pastor Josh Howerton praised Ivey for refusing to 'bow down to the LGBT movement,' comparing his stance to the biblical story of Daniel.

  • Ivey made his remarks against the NBA's 'Pride Month' promotion in April 2026.
  • Ivey was waived by the Chicago Bulls shortly after his comments.
  • The video of Ivey street preaching went viral on social media in early April 2026.

The players

Jaden Ivey

A former guard for the Chicago Bulls who was waived by the team after making remarks criticizing the NBA's promotion of 'Pride Month.'

Josh Howerton

An evangelical pastor in Dallas, Texas who praised Ivey for standing up for his religious beliefs and refusing to 'bow down to the LGBT movement.'

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What they’re saying

“'The world proclaims LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA does, too. They show it to the world. They say, 'Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.' They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it on the streets. Unrighteousness.'”

— Jaden Ivey, Former Chicago Bulls Player

“'To understand what just happened to NBA star Jaden Ivey, all we have to do is go back to Daniel in the Bible. Obey God rather than men.'”

— Josh Howerton, Evangelical Pastor

“'To every Christian within the sound of my voice: This is 1000% what's going to happen to you the moment you start living boldly by your convictions. Now is the time to answer the question: Whose team do you care most about being a star on?'”

— Josh Howerton, Evangelical Pastor

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Jaden Ivey will be able to find another team in the NBA or if he will continue his career overseas. The league and the Bulls have not commented further on his dismissal.

The takeaway

Ivey's case highlights the growing tensions between religious beliefs and LGBTQ+ advocacy in professional sports, as athletes increasingly face pressure to publicly support causes that may conflict with their personal convictions. This raises important questions about the boundaries of free speech and religious freedom for athletes.