Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry didn’t ask to be part of this. He is anyway.
Hours after the Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey on Monday, Ivey went live on Instagram and pulled Curry into it — directly, and by name.
“That’s why you got Steph Curry… y’all think he’s a Christian,” Ivey said. “He don’t know Jesus.”
Within minutes, the clip spread across social media, drawing attention across the league and placing the Warriors’ franchise cornerstone in the middle of a controversy he had no direct involvement in.
Ivey Pushes Back on Bulls’ Decision
GettyThe Chicago Bulls released official statement on why they abruptly waived former No. 5 pick Jaden Ivey.
Ivey didn’t stop at naming Curry. He also challenged the Bulls’ reasoning for cutting him.
“They said your conduct has been detrimental to the team… I haven’t even been with the team because I’ve been rehabbing,” Ivey said. “So how is my conduct detrimental to the team?”
He doubled down moments later.
“They’re lying, saying my conduct is detrimental to the team,” he added. “All I’m preaching about is Jesus Christ and they waived me.”
The Bulls’ initial statement offered no additional detail beyond the standard “conduct detrimental” language. Ivey filled in the gap with his own explanation.
A Direct Hit at Warriors Star’s Very Public Faith
Curry’s faith has never been a footnote.
He has referenced Bible verses throughout his career, most notably Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” — a phrase that has appeared on his shoes and in interviews over the years.
GettyA close-up of the shoes of Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors with the quote “I can do all things” during their game against the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena on December 16, 2009 in Oakland, California.
The comments run counter to how openly Curry has spoken about his faith throughout his career.
Curry has not publicly responded, and there is no indication he was aware of the remarks at the time they were made.
Bulls Point to Standards, Not Details
Inside the organization, coach Billy Donovan offered the most complete explanation of the team’s thinking.
“I think there’s a certain level of standards and expectations that are here,” Donovan said. “We have people from all different walks of life working in the building and players from all different walks of life.
“But one is, we’ve got to all be professional. I think there’s got to be a high level of respect for one another, and we got to help each other and then be accountable to those standards.”
It was the clearest look at the Bulls’ position, even if the team stopped short of directly linking those standards to the decision to waive Ivey.
This Didn’t Come Out of Nowhere
The move had been building.
A Chicago Sun-Times report earlier in the day indicated the Bulls were already working toward an exit involving Ivey before the waiver became official.
In recent weeks, Ivey has posted and spoken extensively about faith and personal beliefs, drawing both support and criticism. By the time Chicago made its decision, the situation had already gained momentum.
Still a Viable NBA Option
Lost in the noise is that Ivey remains a productive player when available.
In his brief stint with the Bulls, he averaged 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists across four games before being sidelined.
Last season with the Detroit Pistons, Ivey averaged 17.6 points, 4.0 assists and 4.1 rebounds while starting alongside Cade Cunningham in the backcourt, showing the scoring ability and playmaking that made him the No. 5 overall pick.
That production — combined with his athleticism and shot creation — has kept him on the radar as a rotation-level guard, even as injuries and off-court developments have complicated his trajectory.
Bigger Picture for Warriors
For the Warriors, this remains external — but it places their most recognizable player in the middle of a conversation he didn’t start.
Curry’s name carries weight. When it surfaces, the story follows.
With his release, Ivey is now an NBA free agent, opening the door for teams across the league to evaluate him heading into the offseason.
In theory, that includes Golden State. In practice, there has been no indication of interest from the Warriors, and no reporting has linked the team to Ivey. For now, it’s hard to imagine they will show interest in the once-promising former No. 5 pick after challenging Curry’s Christian faith.
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