‘Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted’: Christian Pro Athletes Stand Behind Jaden Ivey
NBA guard Jaden Ivey was cut from the Chicago Bulls on Monday after he expressed the basic Christian belief that sexual immorality and pride are “unrighteousness.” In response, multiple professional athletes have come to Ivey’s defense by similarly standing firm on God’s word.
“They proclaim Pride Month. And the NBA, they proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month, to celebrate unrighteousness.’ They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it in the streets. Unrighteousness,” Ivey said. According to The Athletic, the comments were a part of a series of livestreams Ivey hosted on his Instagram over the last week after he was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to knee pain. In these streams, he “spoke extensively on his religious beliefs.”
The Bulls officially announced on Monday evening that Jaden Ivey was waived “due to conduct detrimental to the team.”
Ivey hosted another livestream after the announcement in which he called out the teams’ “lie[s].”
“They’re lying saying my conduct is detrimental to the team. That’s a lie. Ask any one of them coaches in there, ‘Was I a good teammate?’ All I’m preaching about is Jesus Christ and they waived me,” he said.
Jaden Ivey was thrown off the @chicagobulls today over his Christian views on LGBTQ pride events.
He’s reacting live on IG right now and refusing to back down from his religious convictions.@NBA wouldn’t dare to do this to any other faith. Christians must stand with @JadensIV! pic.twitter.com/jSI8d5irdf
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) March 31, 2026