The NBA world was set ablaze when Jaden Ivey didn’t take the floor in the Chicago Bulls’ 110-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Well, that might be overselling it. But it was certainly notable that the recent trade acquisition and 24-year-old guard was a DNP-CD. Ivey was off the injury report and available to play, yet held out of the contest by coach’s decision.
Jaden Ivey’s first career DNP raises eyebrows
Following the loss, Wes Unseld Jr., who served as interim head coach in place of Billy Donovan, told reporters he had communicated his plan to the team prior to tipoff. In other words, Ivey wasn’t expecting to play, which may explain why he wore a knee wrap at times and never shed his warm-ups during the game.
After Unseld Jr. spoke, Ivey addressed the media in the locker room. The fourth-year guard noted it was the first DNP of his career, and then delivered a striking admission. “I’m not the same player I used to be. That’s why. I’m not the J.I. I used to be. The old J.I. is dead," he lamented regarding his DNP.
It’s discouraging, to say the least. Ivey has endured more than a few hurdles over the past year, first suffering a tibia fracture in 2025 and later undergoing offseason knee surgery. Before his 2024-25 campaign was cut short, he averaged 17.6 points and 4.0 assists per game. This season, that production has dipped to 8.5 points and 1.8 assists per contest.
He began the year sidelined, returned in late November, and eventually settled into a reserve role before being dealt to Chicago at the trade deadline. Naturally, one would expect his role to expand upon arriving in the Windy City—especially after going from the first-ranked team in the East to one sitting 11th in the standings.
And initially, it did. Ivey started three of his first four games. But following the All-Star break, a DNP-CD suddenly clouded Ivey’s standing. A day later, a comment from Donovan turned those clouds into a full-blown storm.
Donovan’s assessment adds to the concern
Billy offers his perspective on the Ivey DNP-CD
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) February 20, 2026
He says he was definitely available to play and the knee was not keeping him out, but has not been “moving like he once did”
Ivey was not at practice today, he went to get his knee checked out pic.twitter.com/2PdVTnm1Ze
Donovan said, “I don’t think he’s played to the level I think he’s capable of playing at, or has played at,” before later adding, “In my opinion, he’s not moving like he once did.” He also revealed that Ivey mentioned experiencing discomfort in his left knee, prompting him to miss Friday’s practice to have it checked out.
As if Ivey’s “I’m not who I was” comments weren’t discouraging enough, there’s also the possibility that his knee discomfort could sideline him for additional time.
That said, Donovan downplayed the significance of the DNP-CD, explaining that with Chicago’s roster looking vastly different from what it did earlier in the month, managing rotations has required on-the-fly adjustments. He added that on any given night, it could just as easily be another guard who doesn’t see the floor, suggesting Ivey isn’t necessarily headed for a permanent spot at the end of the bench.
In the end, there’s little reason to overreact to Ivey’s DNP-CD, at least not unless it becomes a pattern. The more legitimate concern lies with his knee.
His once eye-popping burst has noticeably diminished this season, and if that doesn’t return (whether due to the knee or another lingering issue), the long-term implications become far more troubling than a single night on the bench.