Jaden Ivey
Getty
Jaden Ivey of the Detroit Pistons has been on the sidelines since January 1st.
The Chicago Bulls entered the second half of their season as a franchise in transition. A chaotic trade deadline brought in seven new players and moved on from eight. Interim head coach Wes Unseld Jr. inherited a roster still finding its shape, with roles undefined and minutes up for debate.
Thursday night’s home opener against the Toronto Raptors provided no clarity. Chicago fell 110-101, dropping their first game of the second half and raising immediate questions about how Unseld Jr. plans to use the new pieces.
One player didn’t see the floor at all. Jaden Ivey sat out Thursday’s game as a healthy scratch. After the final buzzer, he addressed the situation and said something unexpected.
Ivey Addresses the DNP Postgame
Jaden Ivey believed Thursday marked the first DNP of his NBA career. That context made his response more notable.
“I’ve been dealing with knee soreness,” Ivey said. “I’m sure people can call it out. I’m not the same player I used to be. That’s why. I’m not the J.I. I used to be.”
The admission carried weight. A young player acknowledging publicly that his body has changed, that the version of himself he built his reputation on is no longer what he brings to the court every night, requires particular honesty.
Ivey wasn’t finished.
“The old J.I. is dead,” he said. “I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is. No matter how many DNPs, how many points I score, those things are a temporary thing. Jesus is eternal.”
It was the kind of postgame moment that stops a locker room. Ivey made clear he’s not giving up. He said the DNP doesn’t change his character and that he’ll be ready when his name is called.
Joel Lorenzi
Loaded postgame from Jaden Ivey, who thinks tonight was his first DNP of his career. Said it doesn’t change his character and that he’s here to “do his job, glorify God.” Asked if he thought this was a possibility, he says “going into it, you gotta look at who’s on the roster.
Unseld Explains the Decision for the Bulls
Acting Bulls head coach Wes Unseld Jr. called the decision a basketball one. With Josh Giddey and Tre Jones both returning from injury, Unseld wanted to give them extended run alongside Anfernee Simons. Playing six guards wasn’t something he felt he could manage in one game.
The results were rough. Giddey finished minus-22 and Simons minus-21 in a nine-point loss. Jones was the only one of the three who finished in positive territory.
When asked whether Ivey’s restricted free agent status factored into the rotation decision, Unseld was direct about his limitations.
“That conversation is probably above my pay grade,” Unseld said.
Unseld is managing a roster he didn’t build, in a role he didn’t choose, navigating decisions that go beyond in-game adjustments.
KENNY BEECHAM
Jaden Ivey is literally out of the rotation? What are we doing here?
What Ivey’s Role Looks Like Moving Forward
Before the All-Star break, Ivey had started three of Chicago’s previous four games, averaging 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 38.1 percent from three. Those numbers carry more weight now that the knee context is known. He’s been producing through discomfort.
He’s also one of only two deadline acquisitions whose contracts extend beyond this season, alongside Rob Dillingham. Simons and Collin Sexton are on expiring deals. If the Bulls are serious about what they’re building, Ivey is part of the foundation. Thursday’s rotation didn’t reflect that priority.
The knee situation adds another layer. If Ivey is managing soreness significant enough to affect his athleticism, Chicago needs to understand what that means for his long-term availability and development. Getting him healthy matters more than any single game’s rotation.
Final Word for the Bulls
Ivey sat out Thursday night and responded with grace. He acknowledged his physical limitations without using them as an excuse, processed a difficult moment through faith, and made clear he’ll be ready when the opportunity comes.
The Bulls need to figure out when that is. Unseld admitted the bigger picture is above his pay grade, which means the front office carries the responsibility of making sure Ivey’s role reflects his value to this rebuild.
He said the old J.I. is dead. The question now is what the new version becomes and whether Chicago gives him the chance to show it.