Jaden Ivey opens up about suicidal thoughts during NBA career: 'I'm not ashamed to admit it'

Shortly after being waived by the Chicago Bulls for conduct detrimental to the team, guard Jaden Ivey is opening up about the mental health struggles he's faced in his NBA career.

Ivey was cut loose by the Bulls after several religious rants on Instagram, which included comments denouncing pride nights in the NBA as celebrating "unrighteous" behavior. Reporting has also indicated that Ivey was creating an uncomfortable atmosphere in the Bulls' locker room and even pressed reporters on their behavior from a religious standpoint.

Ivey believes he was unjustly waived. "My conduct was not detrimental to the team. It's strictly because I spoke the truth of the word of God and was preaching the gospel," he said Tuesday.

Here's what Ivey had to say about suicidal thoughts he had during his time with the Pistons. 

MORE: What Jaden Ivey said before being waived by Bulls

Jaden Ivey opens up about suicidal thoughts

Ivey spoke for nearly two hours on the "PinPoint Podcast," revealing that he considered suicide after suffering a broken leg with the Pistons in 2025. "I've almost committed suicide multiple times," the NBA guard said, adding, "And I'm not ashamed to say it. I'm not ashamed because God was merciful to keep me here."

Ivey described the way his wife intervened. "I had pills in my hand. And my wife was telling me, 'Don't do this. Don't go down this road," Ivey said.

Ivey said he had "no peace" early in his long recovery period from the injury before going on a journey to find out "what is the truth." 

While his wife helped him get through his darkest moments, Ivey says now that she isn't communicating with him, "She not even texting me," he said. "Those who are around me, those who are my family members betraying [me] because of what I spoke."

Ivey explained that his family members are "saying that I'm losing my mind, saying that I'm crazy."

Here are more details about Ivey's leg injury from 2025 and injury history.

MORE: Josh Giddey reacts to Jaden Ivey's release from Bulls

Jaden Ivey injury history

Ivey largely stayed healthy over his first two NBA seasons, but his third season was interrupted by a broken leg suffered on New Year's Day in 2025. The injury interrupted what was easily the best season of Ivey's career, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.

Ivey said Tuesday that it was the first major injury of his career and said his suicidal thoughts came while recovering after surgery.

While Ivey aimed to be ready for the start of this season, his return was delayed by arthroscopic knee surgery unrelated to his leg injury. Ivey made his return on Nov. 22, but he was shut down by the Bulls due to a knee injury in March. 

Ivey said Tuesday that he told the Bulls his knee was healed and he was ready to play before he was waived.