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Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls comments on the release of Jaden Ivey.
Amid the controversy surrounding Jaden Ivey and his release by the Chicago Bulls, Josh Giddey has shared his take on his former teammate.
The Bulls waived Ivey on Monday after a lengthy rant on Instagram Live. He made some anti-LGBTQ remarks and even criticized the NBA for celebrating Pride Month. The team didn’t specify what the player said, but they called what happened “conduct detrimental to the team.”
According to NBA insider Evan Sidery, there was growing concern for Ivey before his release from the Bulls. The former No. 5 pick opened up about having depression earlier this year.
There is growing concern surrounding Jaden Ivey.
Ivey, who admitted to dealing with depression this year, has deleted all of social media and is now posting hour-long religious rants by himself on Instagram.
“The old me is dead,” Ivey said earlier this season about his career.
Ivey also previously opened up about his personal struggles in an appearance on the Sports Spectrum podcast in January 2025. He said that he was sexually abused as a child and even had porn and alcohol addictions.
Giddey Sends Message To Ivey
GettyJaden Ivey #23 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets during the first quarter at the United Center on February 07, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.
Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley after the Bulls’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, Giddey wished nothing but the best for Ivey. He wants him to get some help if he needs it, while also praising his potential on the basketball court.
“He’s a very talented player,” Giddey said. “Obviously, the whole thing is kind of unfortunate in a way. I hope he gets the help he needs, whatever he’s going through or not going through. I do really hope he gets help. It’s not going to be with the Bulls anymore, but wherever it is, I hope he gets it.”
Ivey played just four games with the Bulls since he was acquired from the Detroit Pistons in a three-team trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves at the deadline. He averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game, but the Bulls lost all four games.
The Bulls initially announced last week that they were shutting down Ivey for the rest of the season due to a lingering left knee injury. He complained about knee soreness after the All-Star break and suffered a setback during practice after bumping knees with a teammate, as per Sports Illustrated.
Ivey Had a Promising Career Before Trade
GettyThe Chicago Bulls have released an official statement on why they abruptly waived former No. 5 pick Jaden Ivey.
The Detroit Pistons selected Jaden Ivey fifth overall in the 2022 NBA draft out of Purdue. Ivey was an immediate starter as a rookie, averaging 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists for a 17-win Pistons team.
Ivey had a slight dip in production in his second season before a breakout campaign in his third year. He was putting up 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists before suffering a broken leg on January 1, 2025. He has never been the same since that injury and was only limited to a bench role this season.
The 24-year-old guard will be a free agent this summer, though it’s unclear if a team would be interested in giving him a second chance.
Juan Paolo David Juan Paolo David is a sports journalist covering basketball for Heavy. He has a decade of experience writing about the NBA and WWE. He’s currently based in the Philippines. More about Juan Paolo David
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