Getty
PORTLAND, OREGON – OCTOBER 22: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves reacts during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on October 22, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.
Jaden Ivey was waived by the Chicago Bulls on Monday, March 30, for what they officially described as ‘conduct detrimental to the team.’ In the time since, the 24-year-old has continued to speak out, most recently targeting NBA superstar Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves in his latest rant.
While the Bulls didn’t officially announce the exact reason why Ivey was waived, it was reported by several top league sources that it was because of his anti-LGBTQ comments made amid recent social media outbursts and rants.
Now no longer on the team, Ivey has been posting more on social media, and in a recent podcast appearance, the guard targeted Edwards for what he claimed was a similar move that saw the star receive little to no backlash or punishment, compared to him being waived by Chicago.
Jaden Ivey On Anthony Edwards Comments
GettyDETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 11: Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket against Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on January 11, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan.
While on the PinPoint Podcast on Tuesday evening, Ivey called out Edwards for the comments he made back in 2022, and highlighted that the star was not waived or severely punished by the NBA for a post on social media featuring homophobic comments.
“He said those things, right, and they fined him for it,” Ivey said, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic. “So how is it that he said something detrimental and basically hypocritical judgment? … He got fined. He didn’t get kicked out the league. He didn’t get waived, right? But it’s because he’s the best player on their team, right? They need him, right? He makes them money, right?
“It’s all money involved into that. That’s why he’s still playing.”
Edwards was fined $40,000 by the league for his comments, but as Ivey said, he was not waived by the Timberwolves. Ivey claimed that it was due to Edwards’ status as a max-contract player and a superstar in the NBA, compared to him as a role player who was recently traded to a new team.
As an aside, it was also reported that Ivey will receive the full $10.1 million remaining on his contract, despite not being on an NBA team.
There’s a lot to make about the recent ‘Jaden Ivey saga,’ as along with his anti-LGBTQ comments made referencing the NBA’s Pride Month celebration, he also discussed personal issues, mental health, religious beliefs, and other topics that reportedly signaled internal turmoil and instability.
While Edwards was the latest player mentioned by Ivey, he also targeted LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors in his previous social media posts that ultimately led to his current fate as no longer on an NBA team.
Anthony Edwards For The Minnesota Timberwolves This Season
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves warms up before the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2025 in New York City.
But back to Edwards, who did later apologize for his 2022 comments, the franchise star for the Timberwolves likely has other issues to worry about at this point in the season.
Most recently, he returned from a knee injury that kept him out for nearly two weeks. His return was much anticipated, and in only Edwards-fashion, he missed the start of the game for what he described as a bathroom break, though using a few other choice words.
Edwards finished his return game with 17 points, two rebounds, and four assists in 23 minutes. In 59 games this season, the star is averaging 29.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on 49.3% shooting, and while a likely choice to make an All-NBA team, he’ll need to play in the rest of the Timberwolves’ final games of the regular season to be in contention for end-of-season awards, based on the NBA’s 65-game rule.
Regardless, getting Edwards back healthy is big news for Minnesota, a team currently in a tight race in the Western Conference standings. Holding a 46-29 record, they are fifth and in a tight battle with the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
The Timberwolves are the only team to make the last two Conference Finals rounds in the league, but face an uphill battle in the West to reach that point once again this year.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
More Heavy on Timberwolves
Loading more stories