Pro sports players stand up for Jaden Ivey as he's canceled by Chicago Bulls over Christian beliefs

In the wake of the Chicago Bulls dropping Jaden Ivey in the wake of comments regarding the NBA’s "unrighteous" support of Pride month and expressing his Christian beliefs, a number of pro athletes have come out in support of Ivey. 

The Chicago Bulls announced on Monday evening that "the team has waived guard Jaden Ivey due to conduct detrimental to the team." The statement came in the wake of a video released to social media, in which Ivey said, "They proclaim Pride Month in the NBA. They show it to the world. They say, 'Come join us for Pride Month to celebrate unrighteousness.' They proclaim it. They proclaim it on the billboards, they proclaim it in the streets, unrighteousness." Ivey has been vocal about his Christian beliefs, saying in February, "I’m alive in Christ. No matter what the basketball setting is, I’m born again in The Holy Spirit, and I’ve been saved by Jesus Christ." 

Sources briefed on the matter told The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov that Ivey will receive his full $10.1 million salary despite being waived. 

New York Jets cornerback Azareye’h Thomas wrote in response to Ivey being waived, "The world will try to make sin look normal and righteousness look strange. Believer or not, every single person on earth will soon have an appointment before Jesus. So if living for Christ makes us look crazy or "weird", that's okay because it isn't strange to Christ. When it’s all said and done, we’ll give an account to an audience of One. (Romans 14:12, 2 Cor. 5:10)." He also quoted Isaiah 5:20, writing, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness." 

New England Patriots player TreVeyon Henderson wrote, quoting Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Juanyeh Thomas, a player on the Indianapolis Colts, wrote, "We are called as Christians to speak up and spread the gospel… We are made in his image , and those who deny that or go against it will be denied on judgement day… God Bless and Love all," he wrote, also reposting Azareye’h Thomas’ post. 

Blake Ferguson, who played for the Miami Dolphins until 2025, wrote, "'If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.’ John 15:18-21."

In a video released after being taken off the team, Ivey said criticized the team’s decision. "They said, my conduct is detrimental to the team, right? Why didn't they just say, we don't agree with his stance on LGBTQ? Why didn't they say that? Well, how is it, how is it conduct detrimental to the team? What did I do to the team? What did I do to the players? I did nothing but practice with them, play with them, pass the ball to them. Good teammate to them. Said, Good job, good shot. 

"I said these things to my teammates, was never detrimental to them. So why is it that the NBA and the Chicago Bulls say that I'm detrimental to the team? … Because I believe in the truth, because, because I know Jesus is the way, the truth and the life? How? How is my conduct detrimental to the team because of what I believe, because of what the truth is?"