Bulls waive Jaden Ivey hours after he criticizes NBA’s Pride Month celebrations as “unrighteousness” [VIDEO]

The 2022 No. 5 pick was cut for “conduct detrimental to the team” following an Instagram Live where he called the league’s LGBTQ+ promotions “unrighteousness.”

Jaden Ivey’s NBA season ended not on the court but on Instagram. Hours after the guard posted a nearly hour‑long live video criticizing the league’s Pride Month initiatives as “unrighteousness,” the Chicago Bulls announced they were waiving him for “conduct detrimental to the team.” The timing was immediate: the video surfaced March 30, 2026; by evening, ESPN reported the waiver.

Ivey, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 draft, had played just four games for Chicago since being traded from Detroit in February. He was sidelined with a knee injury, using his rehab time to share his Christian testimony across several Instagram Lives. In the one that preceded his release, he spoke directly about the NBA’s public promotion of Pride Month. “They proclaim it on the billboards, they proclaim it in the streets, unrighteousness,” he said. “How is it that one can’t speak righteousness?”

The Bulls’ decision, confirmed by coach Billy Donovan, immediately polarized fans. Some saw it as a violation of religious freedom. Meanwhile, others said Ivey’s comments violated basic workplace standards for a league that celebrates inclusivity.

The Instagram Live That Preceded the Waiver

The video that set off the controversy was shot in two settings. The first half shows Ivey inside an airplane cabin, his head tilted back, eyes closed or looking upward, speaking with a mix of calm and conviction. “They proclaim Pride Month in the NBA,” he said. “They show it to the world; They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.’”

The second half cuts to Ivey indoors, facing the camera directly in the locker room. He spoke about his personal transformation: “I’m not the J. I used to be, but the old J is dead and alive in Christ no matter what.” He described being “born again by the Holy Spirit” and said basketball achievements were temporary.

The live was part of a series Ivey had been posting over the previous week, totaling more than three hours of content that included Bible reading, testimony, and commentary on topics beyond the NBA. But the segment on Pride Month—paired with his earlier statement that he was “alive in Christ”—became the focus of media attention.

Four Games, a Knee Injury, and a Trade

Ivey’s path to Chicago was brief. Drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2022, he was traded to the Bulls in February 2026. He appeared in only four games for Chicago before being shut down on March 26 due to a knee injury that required extended recovery. The Instagram Lives occurred during that shutdown period.

At the time of the waiver, Ivey’s contract was in its final weeks. The Bulls had little incentive to cut him based on performance; he had hardly played. The team’s official statement cited “conduct detrimental to the team” without elaborating, but ESPN’s Shams Charania reported the decision was directly linked to his anti‑LGBTQ comments and religious rants on social media.

What the Bulls Said – and Didn’t Say

Head coach Billy Donovan addressed the matter briefly, saying the comments did not reflect the organization’s values and stressing the need for professionalism in a workplace with diverse employees and backgrounds. He did not specify which remarks crossed the line, only that the decision was made to maintain team culture.

The Bulls’ silence on Ivey’s injury or his four‑game sample size signaled that the waiver was about conduct, not basketball. For a player who had been traded only weeks earlier and had barely stepped on the court, the move was unusual. But for a franchise that has publicly supported the NBA’s inclusive initiatives, the timing appeared deliberate.

ESPN and other outlets reported the waiver as occurring “hours after” the Instagram Live, cementing the narrative that Ivey’s words, not his knee, ended his time in Chicago.

Social Media Splits Over Faith, Free Speech, and Consequences

X reactions to Collin Rugg’s post—and the underlying events—showed a sharp divide. Many users sympathetic to Ivey framed the waiver as religious discrimination. “This is % Christian discrimination. Shame on you, @chicagobulls & @NBA!” one user wrote. Another said, “The NBA promotes degeneracy and then axes Christians who call it out.” A third posted, “He spoke the truth, and unfortunately, the world hates the truth,” while another added, “I stand with Jaden Ivey 100%. Truth over the bag.”

Other replies defended the Bulls’ right to enforce workplace standards. “Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences,” one user noted. Another called the comments “homophobic” and questioned how they could be acceptable in a professional sports environment. “The level of ignorance and normalizing bigotry is astounding,” a third wrote. Some users pointed out that the NBA’s Pride initiatives are voluntary and that players are free to abstain without publicly condemning them.

A smaller cluster of posts questioned the league’s direction without directly endorsing either side, referencing commissioner Adam Silver or broader cultural debates. The split mirrored larger arguments about the boundaries of personal expression in high‑profile jobs.

Ivey’s Response: Still Speaking, Still Believing

After the waiver, Ivey continued posting. In an Instagram Live from an airplane, he addressed the release directly, reiterating his faith and expressing doubt about his NBA future. “How many DMPs? I don’t get to play,” he said, using an abbreviation for “days, months, years” to suggest that his playing career might be over. “No matter how many points I scored, those things are a temporary thing.”

He did not apologize for his earlier comments. Instead, he framed the waiver as a consequence of speaking what he believed to be truth. His tone remained calm, and he continued to read scripture and discuss his transformation.

The post‑waiver Live, like the earlier ones, was shared widely, adding fuel to the debate. Some saw it as a man standing firm in his convictions; others viewed it as doubling down on statements they considered intolerant.

Conclusion: A Waiver That Became a Flashpoint

The Chicago Bulls waived Jaden Ivey for conduct detrimental to the team. On its face, the move was a routine personnel decision. But the timing—hours after a live video criticizing the NBA’s Pride Month as “unrighteousness”—turned it into a cultural flashpoint.

Ivey’s supporters see a player punished for his Christian beliefs in a league that celebrates other forms of identity. His critics see a professional athlete who used his platform to attack coworkers and fans, then faced the predictable consequences.

What is not in dispute is that Ivey spoke. He said what he believed on Instagram Live, and within hours, his NBA season was over. Whether that was an act of conscience or a failure of professionalism depends entirely on where the viewer stands. For Ivey, it was both—a witness and a cost he said he was willing to pay.