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In ditching Jaden Ivey, Chicago Bulls expose the NBA’s hypocrisy

When the Chicago Bulls waived guard Jaden Ivey on Monday for “conduct detrimental to the team,” team management succeeded in exposing their own detrimental conduct toward free speech.

Ivey’s shocking act was not an assault on someone or a bet on a game.

He did not call for violence.

Ivey expressed his religious beliefs by criticizing the NBA’s Pride Month celebrations.

There’s no question that private companies have the right to control employees’ on-the-job speech, including barring demonstrations such as kneeling during the national anthem.

Jaden Ivey goes on wild Instagram rant after Bulls release: ‘I was a fornicator’

Jaden Ivey calls Bulls ‘liars’ over framing of his release after anti-religion, LGBTQ rants

Bulls waive Jaden Ivey after anti-religion, LGBTQ rants as mental health concerns emerge

But the Ivey controversy exposes the hypocrisy of sports associations and teams as they pursue both corporate virtue-signaling and athlete speech restrictions.

Companies in various fields assert the right to condition contracts on the possibility of termination due to public behavior or comments deemed detrimental to the company.

Ivey’s release, based on words spoken off the basketball court, appears to be such a case.

Note, however, the lack of consistency.

Just as actors like Rachel Zegler have tanked their own movies to advance their progressive political viewpoints, athletes have routinely espoused controversial views on racial divisions or law........

© New York Post