\n<\/p>\n
Jaden Ivey addressed claims that he has not been doing well mentally \u2014 and gave insight to his family dynamic \u2014 after the Chicago Bulls waived the former top-10 draft pick for being \u201cdetrimental\u201d to the team over comments criticizing the NBA\u2019s \u201cPride\u201d celebrations.<\/p>\n
\u201cY\u2019all going to say I\u2019m crazy now?\u201d Ivey asked in a livestream on Instagram Tuesday. \u201cHe\u2019s mentally going insane, right? But I\u2019m not. I have peace, I have joy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ivey\u2019s comments about his biblical beliefs have been met with praise from other athletes including TreVeyon Henderson \u2014 as well as criticism, even from his family.<\/p>\n
Since his release from the Bulls, Ivey said his wife is no longer talking to him and his family members are calling him \u201cpsycho\u201d amid the controversy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are my own family members who love me,\u201d Ivey said during his Instagram live stream Tuesday. \u201cMy blood, those who raise me saying that I don\u2019t know the truth \u2026 saying I\u2019m losing my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Purdue alum also appeared on the PinPoint podcast Tuesday night, where he defended his comments about the NBA promoting \u201cPride\u201d events which Ivey called \u201cunrighteous\u201d saying his opinions were not \u201cdetrimental\u201d to the team.<\/p>\n
Ivey said that he was a good teammate and strong player and added that he believed the league\u2019s move of waiving him was hypocritical after Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was only fined for using a homophobic slur back in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow is it that he said something detrimental and basically hypocritical judgment because he\u2019s not a Christian, and he got fined. He didn\u2019t get kicked out of the league. He didn\u2019t get waived, right? But it\u2019s because he\u2019s the best player on their team, right? They need him, right? He makes them money, right?\u201d Ivey said.<\/p>\n
Ivey has posted numerous Instagram lives since last week when the Bulls ruled him out for the rest of the season for a knee injury.<\/p>\n
Though he claims his mental health now is in good shape, it hasn\u2019t always been that way. Ivey opened up about how his injuries, particularly his broken fibula last year, caused him to be suicidal, but God saved him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been many times where God has been so merciful, bro. Like, I\u2019ve almost committed suicide multiple times, and I\u2019m not ashamed to say it. I\u2019m not ashamed because God was merciful to keep me here,\u201d Ivey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had oxy pills in my hand, and my wife was telling me, don\u2019t do it. Don\u2019t do this. Don\u2019t go down this road, and God was convicting me and I didn\u2019t know the truth. And so then, man, I didn\u2019t do it by God\u2019s grace. He kept me here.\u201d<\/p>\n
The guard \u2014 who was averaging 11.5 points per game before his release \u2014 said the Bulls dismissing him won\u2019t stop his basketball career.<\/p>\n
Ivey says he would answer a team\u2019s call tomorrow in the NBA, but he would also consider playing in other leagues, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as I\u2019m doing the will of God, abiding in Jesus Christ, that\u2019s what matters.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n