The NBA let Miles Bridges back on the court after he pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence and then allegedly violated his restraining order.
That same league just cut a player for quoting the Bible.
The Chicago Bulls waived Jaden Ivey on Monday – hours after he posted a video saying the NBA's Pride Night celebrated "unrighteousness" – and what happened next is something the league wasn't ready for.
Jaden Ivey Called Out Stephen Curry by Name
Ivey, the fifth overall pick in 2022, had been sidelined with a knee injury when he went live on Instagram.
He didn't threaten anyone.
He didn't assault anyone.
He said this: "The world proclaims LGBTQ, right? They proclaim Pride Month, and the NBA does too. They show it to the world. They say, 'Come join us for Pride Month, to celebrate unrighteousness.'"
The Bulls responded within hours, declaring Ivey's conduct "detrimental to the team."
Ivey fired back on Instagram Live that same night – and went straight at the NBA's most famous self-described Christian.
"Y'all believe he's a Christian because he wrote Philippians 4:13 on his shoes," Ivey said of Stephen Curry. "Friendship with the world is enmity with God. He's in friendship with the world."
It’s not clear whether Ivey confronted Curry privately first but it’s clear his words are not a vague criticism of the league.
That's a named player being told his faith is a marketing strategy.
TreVeyon Henderson and the Christian Athletes Who Responded
Professional athletes across the NFL and NBA responded – and they didn't issue careful statements.
They posted Scripture.
Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson went straight to Matthew 5:10: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
New York Jets cornerback Azareye'h Thomas was direct: "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. When it's all said and done, we'll give an account to an audience of One."
Lakers forward Jake LaRavia posted John 14:6 – "I am the way, the truth, and the life" – the same verse Ivey had built his stand on.
NFL players Juanyeh Thomas, Miami Dolphins long snapper Blake Ferguson, and Damien Lewis all joined the wave.
These aren't fringe players posting quietly.
These are active NFL and NBA rosters publicly aligning with a man the Bulls just labeled a problem.
The Scoreboard the NBA Doesn't Want You to See
Miles Bridges pleaded no contest to a felony domestic violence charge in 2022 – the assault of the mother of his children, in front of those children.
The NBA gave him a 30-game suspension.
The Charlotte Hornets re-signed him for $7.9 million.
Then Bridges was charged again for allegedly throwing billiard balls at his ex-girlfriend's car while their children were inside.
The Hornets issued a statement saying they were "comfortable" with him returning to the roster.
By 2024, he had a new three-year, $75 million contract.
Jaden Ivey posted a video about his Christian faith.
The Bulls cut him the same day.
That's the NBA's moral standard, written out plainly.
What the NBA Just Told 65 Million Christians
The NBA has been hemorrhaging viewers for years as it doubled down on politics while the games got worse.
What the Bulls just did hands every Christian in America a concrete example of what the league actually believes.
A player can strangle the mother of his children and come back for $75 million.
But quote Scripture about sin?
That's where the Chicago Bulls draw the line.
The rally behind Ivey isn't going away quietly either.
When active NFL and NBA players post Bible verses in solidarity – on the record, with their names attached – that's not a social media moment.
There are roughly 65 million evangelical Christians in this country.
The Bulls just told every one of them exactly where they stand.
Sources:
- Alejandro Avila, "Christian Athletes Rally Behind Jaden Ivey After Bulls Cut Him Following Faith Remarks," OutKick, March 31, 2026.
- Alejandro Avila, "Chicago Bulls Waive Jaden Ivey Hours After He Took An Opposing Stance To Pride Events," OutKick, March 30, 2026.
- "NBA Team Drops Player Over Gay Pride Comments, Sparks Backlash From Christian Athletes," The Daily Wire, March 31, 2026.
- Maisey Jefferson, "Christian Professional Athletes Stand Behind Jaden Ivey," The Federalist, March 31, 2026.
- "Hornets' Miles Bridges Set to Return After Serving 10-Game Suspension," NBA.com, November 17, 2023.
- "Miles Bridges to Return to Hornets on Reported 3-Year, $75 Million Deal," NBA.com, July 15, 2024.
