Chicago Bulls waive guard Jaden Ivey after series of anti-gay comments
The Chicago Bulls have waived guard Jaden Ivey after the 24-year-old made a series of anti-gay comments on social media.
The decision follows several recent videos posted online by the player, which included extensive rants regarding religion and other topics.
In one specific post, he criticised the NBA for celebrating Pride Month, describing the inclusive initiative as “unrighteousness.”
Injury struggles and recent trade
The former Detroit Pistons star arrived in Chicago last month via a trade but only managed to make four appearances for his new franchise.
A severe left knee injury subsequently ruled the playmaker out for the remainder of the basketball season.
Prior to these recent controversies, the American had spoken publicly about his personal battles with depression.
Draft pedigree and free agency
Selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the athletic prospect initially showed significant promise while featuring for a rebuilding Detroit roster.
However, persistent knee problems restricted him to just 30 games during the 2024-25 campaign and continued to hamper his progress following the recent transfer.
Having failed to agree a contract extension with his former employers last summer, the released guard now enters the upcoming offseason as an unrestricted free agent.