The Jaden Ivey era with the Chicago Bulls is already over. Almost two months after the Bulls acquired him from the Detroit Pistons, the Bulls have decided to waive the former lottery pick. Ivey has recently gotten himself into some hot water, which was enough to convince the Bulls to part ways.
What Happened Between Jaden Ivey & the Bulls?
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Bulls waived Ivey after several rants he made on social media went viral.
“The Chicago Bulls are waiving guard Jaden Ivey after his recent anti-LGBTQ comments amid several rants on religion and other topics, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote.
The Chicago Bulls are waiving guard Jaden Ivey after his recent anti-LGBTQ comments amid several rants on religion and other topics, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/7dbsoUhAvE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 30, 2026
Multiple factors played into why this played out the way it did.
The Bulls waived Ivey after a few of his rants went viral. This included a rant in which he spoke against the NBA for “Pride Night,” an event that celebrates the LGBTQ community.
Jaden Ivey calls out the NBA for celebrating Pride Month
“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.’”
(@esidery)
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 30, 2026
Ivey also discussed his religious views and admitted that there has been a major change within himself.
“I’m not the same player I used to be. That’s why. I’m not the J.I. I used to be. The old J.I. is dead,” Ivey told reporters after a DNP with the Bulls. “I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is.”
There is growing concern surrounding Jaden Ivey.
Ivey, who admitted to dealing with depression this year, has deleted all of social media and is now posting hour-long religious rants by himself on Instagram.
“The old me is dead,” Ivey said earlier this season about his career. pic.twitter.com/9bhGWZ0VxR
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) March 30, 2026
Regardless of how anyone feels about Ivey’s words here, he has been through a lot over the past year. It looked like he had turned the corner for the Pistons last season, averaging 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and four assists while shooting 46% from the field and almost 41% from three.
That was until he sadly broke his fibula on January 1, 2025, prematurely ending his season and preventing his participation in the Pistons’ most promising season in years. Ivey has not been able to replicate that same production since his return.
In 33 games, he averaged 8.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 45% from the field and 37.2% from three. Ivey’s role in Detroit wasn’t quite what it was last year, pushing them to trade him to Chicago.
Things didn’t get much better with the Bulls, as he averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4 assists over the four games he played for them. After they acquired him on February 3, he last played for them on February 11.
Following confirmation that the Bulls had waived Ivey, the team officially announced their decision, saying they had waived him “due to conduct detrimental to the team.”
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 30, 2026
It is clear that Ivey is going through something. Whenever a professional athlete suffers a long-term injury, it’s easy to forget that they are people and that coming back from injury is not just physical, but mental.
