Chicago Bulls Clean House: Top Executives Axed One Week After Jaden Ivey Waiver Amid Massive Backlash and Dismal Season
- Rex Ballard
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
abc7chicago.com Chicago Bulls dismiss Executive Vice President Arturas Karnisovas and General Manager Marc Eversley, sources tell ESPN - ABC7 Chicago
In a stunning front-office overhaul, the Chicago Bulls fired Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas and General Manager Marc Eversley on April 6, 2026 — just eight days after the controversial waiver of guard Jaden Ivey.
Ownership’s decision comes as the team sits at a dismal 29-49 record, 12th in the Eastern Conference, and long eliminated from playoff contention. Under Karnišovas and Eversley’s six-year tenure, the Bulls managed just one playoff appearance and minimal success, leaving fans and ownership frustrated for years.
Watch the official announcement and immediate reaction to the firings
While the organization has long pointed to on-court failures, multiple reports confirm that the Jaden Ivey saga played a major role in the firings. The swift waiver of the outspoken Christian player after his Instagram Live testimony criticizing NBA Pride Month as “celebrating unrighteousness” triggered a firestorm of negative press, Christian outrage, and boycott calls. Many now see the executive dismissals as ownership’s attempt to distance itself from the PR disaster.
A Season of Struggles Meets a Faith-Based Controversy
The Bulls entered the 2025-26 season with high hopes after a major trade-deadline overhaul orchestrated by Karnišovas — including the acquisition of Ivey from the Detroit Pistons. Instead, the team collapsed, finishing near the bottom of the league. The Ivey waiver, framed by the front office as “conduct detrimental to the team,” became the tipping point.
NBA player Jaden Ivey goes on a social media rant after being waived amid comments criticizing Pride Month
Christian leaders, conservative media, and everyday fans flooded social media with calls to boycott the NBA and Bulls, accusing the organization of punishing Ivey for simply sharing his testimony of redemption through Christ. The backlash amplified existing discontent with the front office’s inability to build a winner.
Will Jaden Ivey Be Reinstated? It’s TBD
With the old regime gone, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the Bulls will bring Ivey back. Sources close to the situation say reinstatement is “under consideration” by the new interim leadership, but nothing is confirmed. Ivey himself has not commented directly on the firings, continuing instead to preach the Gospel on the streets and online.
chicago.suntimes.com Another day, another rumor regarding Bulls general manager Marc Eversley - Chicago Sun-Times
Ownership’s move is being celebrated in faith communities as a rare moment of accountability — not just for losing seasons, but for what many viewed as anti-Christian bias in professional sports. Whether it leads to Ivey’s return remains to be seen, but the message is clear: the previous front office’s handling of the situation helped cost them their jobs.
As one Christian commentator put it: “They tried to silence a voice for Christ. Now the very people who made that call are silenced.”
The Bulls’ next steps — and whether they choose to right the wrong with Ivey — will define the franchise’s direction for years to come. For now, the firestorm continues.
