Ivey was released by the Bulls last Monday for his viral anti-gay remarks during Instagram live.
On Tuesday evening, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff finally broke his silence in the wake of the current headlines surrounding Jaden Ivey.
MIN:
18.11
PTS:
8.54 (50.17%)
REB:
2.46
AS:
1.84
ST:
0.62
BL:
0.38
TO:
1.11
GM:
37
While he fully sympathizes with his former player, Bickerstaff also made it clear about the NBA’s full embrace of diversity.
“Having built a relationship with JI and feeling like you know his character and his heart is one thing for him to go through what he’s gone through,” Bickerstaff said, via Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. “I know it has been extremely difficult for him as far as the way he was playing, the injuries, trying to make the comeback and trying to overcome that. So, I don’t think we can overlook the human aspect of all these things and how that impacts people and their decisions.
“Having said that, I also believe that the NBA is one of the most inclusive environments in pro sports, and it’s a genuine thing that celebrates different ethnicities, heritages, sexual preferences, whatever it may be. The NBA brings people together and I think that’s the great thing about our sport. And it’s something that we understand the responsibility as you live that day-to-day.
“But giving people an opportunity to just be who they are. Right? And if we don’t believe the same thing. As long as your beliefs don’t infringe upon me, you have a right to have your beliefs and be the person that you are.”
Ivey was waived by the Chicago Bulls last Monday after going viral in an Instagram live over his anti-LGBTQ remarks and criticisms around the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan stressed that Ivey didn’t follow the organization’s certain standards, which led to his messy exit. Afterwards, Ivey took another Instagram live jab, ripped Chicago for releasing him and called out Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry as a fake Christian.
It remains to be seen where Ivey will play next. The fifth overall pick of the 2022 Draft began his career with the Pistons, but injuries and a dwindling role ultimately sent him to Chicago ahead of last month’s NBA trade deadline.
“This environment should be an environment that supports that and gives people the opportunity to be the best version of themselves, no matter who that is or what they believe or what choices they may make,” Bickerstaff added about Ivey. “Again, that don’t impact or infringe on other people’s.”
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