The Chicago Bulls immediately waived embattled guard Jaden Ivey after his anti-LGBT remarks on his Instagram account. While they were blasted by their own fans for their swift decision, a new report suggests that there are some weird things going on behind the scenes with Ivey.
The Preacher Reputation
There were reports that the 24-year-old asked inappropriate questions to some of the Bulls’ staff. And this all happened even before his outburst against Pride Night. Now, it looks like some additional information has leaked out to the public, painting Jaden Ivey as a “preacher.” However, this time, it happened when he was still in Detroit.
“Jaden Ivey reportedly had a reputation for being a ‘preacher’ in the Pistons’ locker room before being traded to Chicago,” according to a report from Chris Mannix.
The Context
Religion is a fickle topic to discuss. Its authenticity has been debated for decades. But Ivey is entitled to his own opinion about the matter. Too bad that the consequence he received was being booted from his basketball job.
Donovan’s Response
When the Jaden Ivey issue erupted, many people were divided by his strong opinions. There were those who were supportive, and some especially from the LGBT community hated what Ivey had said. But at least the former 2022 lottery pick was not painted as the sole villain by his former coach, Billy Donovan.
“I think in this day and age, you have to be conscientious of all these guys may be going through things. And I’m not passing judgment on what Jaden is or is not going through. But I do worry about that, not only for Jaden, but for all of our players,” Donovan said to reporters.
“Are we providing the resources, which I think we do, to help them in any way we can? I think if any player reached out and said I need some help in this, we could help them,” he added.
The Bottom Line
Jaden Ivey was a “preacher” in the Pistons locker room. He asked inappropriate questions to Bulls staff. He ranted against Pride Night on Instagram. And now he’s out of the league.
Billy Donovan had a different take: maybe he needs help, not condemnation. But in the NBA, actions have consequences. And Ivey’s actions on and off the court have cost him his job. The question now is whether anyone will try to get him the help he might need. Or whether his career is simply over.