Farewell, Ivey, a 24-year-old prodigy has been ruined like this.

The Bulls officially announced that Ivey was cut due to inappropriate behavior detrimental to the team, including expressing religious fanaticism and anti-LGBTQ remarks. Upon hearing this news in the morning, my first reaction was sadness.

Two days ago, the Bulls announced that Ivey would miss the entire season and require continued rehabilitation treatment. This news likely became the final straw that broke Ivey, as over a year has passed since that injury, and he remains trapped in endless injuries, gradually eroding his last bit of fighting spirit.

In January 2025, Cole Anthony's diving attempt to grab the ball landed directly on Ivey's leg, causing severe deformation of his ankle. On November 23, Ivey returned to the court but could never find his former self again.

Before the injury, Ivey averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, with a shooting percentage of 46.0% and a three-point percentage of 40.9%. If everything had gone smoothly, he would certainly have received a contract extension from the Pistons in the offseason, likely totaling over a hundred million dollars.

After the injury, that contract extension never materialized. The Pistons were unwilling to take the risk, and Ivey likely did not want to accept a contract below his pre-injury standards. When he returned, the team improved, but he himself deteriorated.

In his 33 games with the Pistons this season, Ivey averaged only 16.8 minutes per game, scoring 8.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. All his statistics hit career lows, including his role on the team, reaching its lowest point in four years. He was no longer a starter or a key rotation player; the team performed better without him, and everything around him pushed him toward the edge.

On the trade deadline, he was sent by the Pistons to the Bulls. That fifth pick, once seen as the hope for the Pistons' revival, ultimately could not continue with the team.

At the Bulls, his fate became even more turbulent. Before being cut, he played only four games for the Bulls, with slightly better stats than during his Pistons tenure and increased playing time, but he soon fell back into a lengthy rehabilitation period. His left knee was riddled with injuries, not resembling that of a typical 24-year-old.

Ivey said in an interview: "I know people will say it—I'm not the player I used to be. The reason is right here (the knee issues). That old Ivey is dead. Regardless of the basketball environment, I live in Christ."

Looking back, it seems Ivey's mindset began to change at this point. His parents divorced when he was very young, and he channeled his emotions into basketball, fortunately excelling at it. As the basketball he relied on gradually slipped away, plagued by injuries, he began shifting his emotional reliance to other beliefs.

He started giving up on himself, discussing a series of viewpoints contrary to NBA corporate culture during a livestream, ultimately leading to his dismissal. Based on past examples, the likelihood of Ivey returning to the NBA is very low. Remember AJ Griffin? He left the NBA for religious reasons and is now essentially forgotten.

AJ Griffin chose his own path, while Ivey was pushed step by step onto this road. The prolonged rehabilitation, all the changes around him, caused severe psychological issues, resulting in him losing his job.

A year ago, he bore the burden of reviving Motor City; a year later, he wandered through Chicago's nights without solace. The hardest part is not never having had it, but having had it and lost it—this immense落差感 (sense of落差) torments Ivey daily. He needed an emotional outlet, but the代价 (cost) was almost unbearable.

I hope everything goes well for Ivey in the future, even if he moves away from basketball, and he finds inner peace. He didn't leave a lasting brilliance in the basketball world, but he did leave a fleeting绚烂 (splendor).