The Chicago Bulls announced on Monday via Instagram that they had waived Jaden Ivey “due to conduct detrimental to the team.” NBA insider Shams Charania gave more context to the statement with this tweet:
“The Chicago Bulls are waiving guard Jaden Ivey after his recent anti-LGBTQ comments amid several rants on religion and other topics.”
Over the weekend, the 24-year-old guard conducted a 75-minute Instagram Live session in which he discussed religion. Ivey, sitting alone in a car, engaged fans by answering some of their questions.
When a fan asked if he goes to confession, the former Detroit Pistons guard did not hold back:
“Catholicism is a false religion. And is not the true Doctrine of Christ. It does not lead to salvation in Jesus Christ.”
Many slammed Ivey for his response. Some urged him to get his mental health check as he seemed to be breaking down, according to them. A few ripped Ivey for his incorrect “interpretation” of some of the Bible quotes he has been lecturing his fans about.
When a fan expressed his concern and wrote that he would be sending prayers for Ivey, the NBA player responded:
“God does not hear your Prayer if you are a sinner.”
When another fan pushed back, saying that “Jesus was a friend of sinners,” Jaden Ivey replied:
“Amen. He was so they become righteous.”
On Monday, Ivey also lambasted the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month, calling the event “unrighteousness.”
Jaden Ivey Once Said That “The Old J.I. Is Dead”
On Feb.19, Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan kept Jaden Ivey on the bench in the team’s 110-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Ivey had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in October. He admitted to dealing with knee soreness when Donovan refused to play him.
After the game, Ivey told reporters in the locker room:
“I’m sure people can call it out that I’m not the same player I used to be. That’s why. I’m not the J.I. I used to be. But the old J.I. is dead. I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is.”
According to ESPN on Monday, Jaden Ivey’s religious intensity “ratcheted up” after the Detroit Pistons sent him to the Chicago Bulls in February. After the Bulls shut him down for the season on Thursday due to a left knee injury, he became more intense on Instagram Live, quoting the Bible and preaching to fans.
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