Children idolize professional athletes almost as much as they idolize parents and teachers. For this reason, I’ve never been a fan of the “shut up and dribble” mindset, as athletes have a huge platform and responsibilities beyond basketball.
In late March, Jaden Ivey of the Chicago Bulls was released from the team following multiple lengthy religious rants on Instagram condemning the NBA’s celebration of Pride Month. After arriving in Chicago, Ivey became a locker room poison due to his preachy attitude.
According to ESPN, Bulls coach Billy Donovan said, “We have to all be professional, there has to be a high level of respect for one another, and we've got to help each other and be accountable to those standards,” following Ivey’s release.
The Bulls swiftly took action to release Ivey for his inappropriate behavior– great. Yet, a troubling number of domestic abusers remain in the NBA, backed and elevated by the league. There is a gross moral double standard at play.
Let’s be clear, I understand why Ivey was waived and believe it was the right choice for the organization. I’m not arguing, as the Association of Mature American Citizens is, that Ivey was waived because of his religious beliefs in a so-called “Woke NBA.”
Big names, like Kevin Porter Jr., Miles Bridges and Jaxson Hayes, some of whom are even repeat offenders, continue to be supported in the NBA after being charged with domestic violence or similar crimes. Every franchise has dealt with these types of allegations, and most players face minimal consequences. The NBA can’t state “sports are intended to be inclusive for everybody” and promote the NBA as a “safe space” while completely ignoring abusers populating their rosters in the same breath. They’ve failed to take accountability for years against domestic violence and related incidents, and there seems to be no change on the horizon.
Before the weak consequences, there are mismanaged investigations. Jaxson Hayes, a Los Angeles Laker, was under investigation in 2021 for the alleged domestic abuse of his girlfriend and faced no penalties from the NBA; they didn’t even interview his then-girlfriend, who accused Hayes during their investigation.
Something similar happened in the case of Joshua Primo, the former San Antonio Spurs player who allegedly exposed himself to the Spurs’ psychologist multiple times in 2022. The psychologist made “numerous complaints” to the organization, and Primo continued to expose himself to her in private sessions after her complaints weren’t taken seriously.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline says “there’s a very low percentage of abusers who truly do change their ways” because many factors behind abuse are learned emotions of “entitlement and privilege.” NBA players obviously have status and money, and are often welcomed back to the league after controversy.
Former NBA player Jason Kidd is a prime example. Kidd pled guilty to assaulting his wife in 2001, continued to play in the NBA and then was hired as the Dallas Mavericks Head coach in 2021.
The NBA upholds strict policies on things like gambling and drug use. Paul George served a 20-game suspension for using an “improper medication” for mental health issues, while the longest suspension served for domestic violence is 30 games.
In a perfect world, there would be no violence, but it isn’t a perfect world, and “everyone within the NBA ecosystem needs to assume a level of responsibility for admonishing this type of behavior.” Domestic violence allegations, even without a conviction, “can affect your work, your income and even your career path” in any other field, but rarely the NBA.
In 2023, Hall-of-Fame Charles Barkley questioned NBA commissioner Adam Silver on national television about what the NBA was going to do about the high number of domestic violence cases within the league. Silver gave a mostly meaningless statement, concluding with, “... if a guy, you know, does cross the line, the consequences are enormous.”
The consequences are obviously not “enormous” if players continue to play, or even coach, in the NBA.
I understand substance abuse, gambling and poisonous locker room behavior directly affect the integrity of the sport, but we must look at the bigger picture. The NBA has made it clear that domestic violence, sexual abuse or anything along those lines shouldn’t affect your legacy.
Karl Malone, a Hall-of-Fame player who has a statue at his alma mater, Louisiana Tech University, impregnated a 13-year-old girl when he was in college. This is statutory rape, proved with a paternity test, which never affected his life.
Sexual assault or domestic violence is not a morally grey area– it’s inherently wrong. The NBA has a responsibility to make it clear abuse is not OK and abusers aren’t role models.
Abby Shriver is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Abby about their column? Email/message them at as064024@ohio.edu / @abbyshriver_
