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reach, that’s a curious strategy.

Timing only adds to the tension. The incident unfolded during Holy Week, one of the most sacred periods on the Christian calendar — a moment when questions of faith and conviction are especially prominent.

None of this requires agreement with Ivey’s views. Reasonable people can and do disagree on these issues.

But there is a difference between disagreement and exclusion.

If the standard for remaining in the NBA now includes alignment with specific cultural or ideological positions, then the league is entering new territory — one where speech, not conduct, becomes the deciding factor in a player’s career.

Ivey may yet find another team willing to give him a second chance. But the larger issue will remain: In today’s NBA, it’s not just how you play the game that matters — it’s what you’re allowed to say off the court.

Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” and cofounder of Daily Wire+. He is a three-time New York Times bestselling author. To find out more about Ben Shapiro and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2026 CREATORS. COM