Pistons Coach Speaks About Controversial Release of Jaden Ivey

It’s never a good thing to get waived. Sure, it is part of the process for fringe NBA players. Every year, they are picked up for short-term contracts and often waived for a myriad of different reasons. However, when a lottery pick or talented young player gets waived, it usually means something is truly wrong.

That’s what happened with the Chicago Bulls' recent pickup, Jaden Ivey. Ivey has spent the last week or so going on long Instagram rants with extreme religious undertones. The straw that broke the camel's back was when he spoke out against the NBA for honoring the LGBTQ community with Pride Month celebrations. 

Ivey showed tons of promise early in his NBA career, but injuries have kept him off the court for much of the last two seasons. The Bulls decided that he wasn’t worth the negative press and attention, so they decided to waive him.

Ivey’s former coach spoke about what is going on with his former player, especially with rumors going around that his Instagram rants are part of a larger mental breakdown. 

"Having built a relationship with JI and feeling like you know his character and his heart, it's one thing for him to go through what he's gone through. I know 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. I also believe 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... the NBA brings people together."

Even though Ivey is saying some outlandish things online, he is still a person. Watching someone unravel on the internet is never fun, especially if you know them. Bickerstaff is just trying to remind everyone that no matter what Ivey is going through, he’s a human too and humans make mistakes.