The Fallout Grows More Personal For NBA Star Axed Over Christian Beliefs

Jaden Ivey addressed claims that he has not been doing well mentally — and gave insight to his family dynamic — after the Chicago Bulls waived the former top-10 draft pick for being “detrimental” to the team over comments criticizing the NBA’s “Pride” celebrations.

“Y’all going to say I’m crazy now?” Ivey asked in a livestream on Instagram Tuesday. “He’s mentally going insane, right? But I’m not. I have peace, I have joy.”

Ivey’s comments about his biblical beliefs have been met with praise from other athletes including TreVeyon Henderson — as well as criticism, even from his family.

Since his release from the Bulls, Ivey said his wife is no longer talking to him and his family members are calling him “psycho” amid the controversy.

“These are my own family members who love me,” Ivey said during his Instagram live stream Tuesday. “My blood, those who raise me saying that I don’t know the truth … saying I’m losing my mind.”

The Purdue alum also appeared on the PinPoint podcast Tuesday night, where he defended his comments about the NBA promoting “Pride” events which Ivey called “unrighteous” saying his opinions were not “detrimental” to the team.

Ivey said that he was a good teammate and strong player and added that he believed the league’s move of waiving him was hypocritical after Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was only fined for using a homophobic slur back in 2022.

“How is it that he said something detrimental and basically hypocritical judgment because he’s not a Christian, and he got fined. He didn’t get kicked out of the league. He didn’t get waived, right? But it’s because he’s the best player on their team, right? They need him, right? He makes them money, right?” Ivey said.

Ivey has posted numerous Instagram lives since last week when the Bulls ruled him out for the rest of the season for a knee injury.

Though he claims his mental health now is in good shape, it hasn’t always been that way. Ivey opened up about how his injuries, particularly his broken fibula last year, caused him to be suicidal, but God saved him.

“There’s been many times where God has been so merciful, bro. Like, I’ve almost committed suicide multiple times, and I’m not ashamed to say it. I’m not ashamed because God was merciful to keep me here,” Ivey said.

“I had oxy pills in my hand, and my wife was telling me, don’t do it. Don’t do this. Don’t go down this road, and God was convicting me and I didn’t know the truth. And so then, man, I didn’t do it by God’s grace. He kept me here.”

The guard — who was averaging 11.5 points per game before his release — said the Bulls dismissing him won’t stop his basketball career.

Ivey says he would answer a team’s call tomorrow in the NBA, but he would also consider playing in other leagues, too.

“As long as I’m doing the will of God, abiding in Jesus Christ, that’s what matters.”