Jaden Ivey seemingly has continued to spiral since being released by the Chicago Bulls last week following his criticism of the NBA’s Pride initiatives and anti-LGBTQ comments.
The former fifth-overall pick of the 2022 NBA draft reportedly was filmed preaching on a street in Alabama on Saturday night.
A video of a man appearing to be Ivey was posted on social media, with several outlets reporting that it was in fact the recently released player.
In the clip that took place at Toomer’s Corner in Auburn, Ala., Ivey speaks into a microphone hooked up to a speaker and quotes Matthew 5:8, which says “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
There is a small crowd gathered on the street while Ivey paces around near a large sign with several religious messages written on it.
The video created further concern for Ivey’s mental health after he seemingly had began spiraling on social media recently.
Why was Jaden Ivey released?
Ivey was cut by the team on Monday after posting a scathing criticism of the NBA’s support for the LGBTQ+ community and its Pride initiatives.
He made the remarks during a livestream, with the team cutting ties with the fifth-overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft later in the evening due to what it labelled “conduct detrimental to the team.”
“The world can proclaim LGBTQ, right?” Ivey said during the stream on his Instagram account. “They proclaim Pride Month. And the NBA, they proclaim it. They show it to the world. They say, ‘Come join us for Pride Month, to celebrate unrighteousness.’
“They proclaim it on the billboards. They proclaim it in the streets. Unrighteousness.”
Ivey has become increasingly outspoken about his devotion to religion, especially on social media.
What was Ivey’s response to being cut?
After the team announced it was parting ways with the guard – who has been sidelined with a knee injury since mid-February – he went on another rant, criticizing the team, the league and Warriors superstar Steph Curry.
“They said your conduct is detrimental to the team,” Ivey said in a clip as he was boarding a plane. “I haven’t been with the team. I haven’t been with the team because I’ve been rehabbing.
“So how’s my conduct detrimental to the team?”
Ivey then also said that he believes he won’t be picked up by another team because he’s going to be cancelled.
“They gonna cancel me, bro, I’m telling you. They don’t want this … God is faithful,” he said.
What did Ivey’s wife say about his claims?
Ivey’s wife Caitlyn, also fired back at a claim made by the former Bulls guard, who said that she has not been speaking with him, sparking public backlash against the mother of his three children.
However, Caitlyn took to social media to tell her side of the story and share that they had been in communication “all morning” of the day in question.
“We were communicating all morning of that day. People say things for attention, do not be deceived,” she posted on her Instagram Stories, per the Daily Mail.
Caitlyn also shared a series of hateful messages that she has received on social media, adding: “These DM’s (and many more) over one lie spoke on my name.”
She then added that she has never abandoned her husband, despite his claims.
“If you know me, you know I have never abandoned that man through all the trials … and I still haven’t now,” she continued.
“There is obviously a lot more going on, so leave your conspiracies and guesses to yourselves.”
What are Ivey’s stats?
Ivey began his career with the Pistons, playing three full seasons with Detroit before being traded to Chicago at the trade deadline this year.
During his time with the Pistons, Ivey averaged 14.9 points and 4.0 assists per game.
However, his numbers dropped sharply this season, with his minutes being cut from 29.9 per game to just 16.8 before the trade.