Jaden Ivey, a 24-year-old NBA guard recently waived by the Chicago Bulls after criticizing Pride Month as “celebrating unrighteousness,” opened up in a PinPoint Podcast interview about repeated personal crises during injuries and how God has helped him get through his darkest and bleakest moments.
He credits God’s mercy and his wife’s intervention for saving him from an oxycodone overdose. Ivey insists he loves people but opposes homosexual acts as contrary to Scripture, while rejecting the team’s “conduct detrimental” explanation as cover for religious discrimination.
Now “alive in Christ,” the former 2022 draft pick vows to keep speaking biblical truth regardless of career cost, framing basketball as temporary and eternal life through Jesus as ultimate success as opposed to an athletic career.
Describing his relationship with God, the athlete related a harrowing personal story. “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.
Offering more detail, the player said, “I almost committed suicide. I had [oxycodone] pills in my hand. And my wife was telling me, ‘Don’t do this. Don’t go down this road.’ … I didn’t do it by God’s grace. He kept me here.”
Providing information on his stance toward LGBTQ issues and Pride Nights, Ivey explained, “In terms of LGBTQ, I’m not against the man or the woman. I’m against what is contrary to the word of God. Man is not supposed to lie with a man and a woman is not supposed to lie with a woman.”
“The world proclaims LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month and the NBA does, too. 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 on the streets. Unrighteousness,” he said, adding, “So how is it that one can’t speak righteousness? Who are they to say that this man is crazy?”
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Turning to his cancellation, the basketball star noted, “They’re liars, bro. This is lying. They’re lying saying my conduct is detrimental to the team. … All I’m preaching about is Jesus Christ and they waived me. As long as I’m doing the will of God, abiding in Jesus Christ, that’s what matters.”
Wrapping up his comments, he reaffirmed his commitment to Christ. “I’m not the J.I. I used to be. The old J.I. is dead. I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is,” Jaden Ivey explained, “I have a mouth to speak. No one can stop me!”
Watch Ivey comment on his faith here:
JUST IN🚨: Jaden Ivey boldly declares it is sinful for a man to lie with another man and vows that no one can silence him from speaking biblical truth.
Ivey called out the Chicago Bulls for lying when they labeled his conduct “detrimental” to the team.
“I’m not against the man… pic.twitter.com/SSWS9303go
— Officer Lew (@officer_Lew) April 1, 2026
On social media, users rallied around the basketball player. “Jaden Ivey who was waived from Chicago Bulls was seen preaching the gospel on the street corner. We need more people like him. This is very humbling,” one post read.
TreVon Henderson, a running back for the New England Patriots, posted a quote from scripture, which read, “‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ Matthew 5:10”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video