Chicago Bulls Fire 24-Year-Old Guard After Explosive 37-Point Summer League Showcase, Leaving Fans and Analysts Stunned by Decision

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the NBA community, the Chicago Bulls have released 24-year-old guard Javon Freeman-Liberty just days after he erupted for 37 points in a standout Summer League performance. The decision has ignited widespread controversy, prompting outrage from fans and disbelief among analysts, many of whom considered the undrafted Chicago native one of the most promising breakout candidates of the offseason.

Freeman-Liberty, a 6’4″ guard out of DePaul University, had been vying for a regular-season roster spot with the Bulls after grinding his way through the G League and previous Summer League campaigns. His latest performance—an electric 37-point outing in Las Vegas against the Utah Jazz—had NBA Twitter buzzing, and many viewed it as a turning point in his career.

“I’ve never seen a guy fight that hard to prove he belongs, and then get cut right after,” said one league scout who attended the game. “That kid left it all on the court. Thirty-seven points, controlled the tempo, made the right reads, defended at a high level. What else do you want?”

Apparently, not enough for the Bulls’ front office.

Sources close to the team suggest the decision was based more on roster construction and long-term cap strategy than performance alone. The Bulls are reportedly prioritizing veteran guard depth and shooting in free agency and have already committed guaranteed money to a number of other players at Freeman-Liberty’s position. Still, that explanation hasn’t satisfied the outpouring of support for the young guard who gave fans a rare moment of excitement in what has been a turbulent rebuild.

Freeman-Liberty was initially signed to a two-way contract last season after averaging 21.7 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.3 rebounds for the Windy City Bulls, Chicago’s G League affiliate. He showed continued growth in each outing and was lauded for his maturity, scoring instincts, and ability to defend multiple positions. But it was his dazzling Summer League performance that truly turned heads—and, many assumed, solidified his spot.

He was everywhere on the court during the game against the Jazz. He hit contested threes, attacked the rim with ferocity, dished out five assists, and even came up with two critical steals. His 37 points came on 60% shooting and included a clutch step-back jumper that sent the game into overtime. The moment the final buzzer sounded, social media was ablaze with praise and demands that the Bulls give him a standard contract.

But the very next morning, the team waived him.

“That’s just wrong,” said ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins. “You give a young man an opportunity, he goes out and outplays everybody on the court, and you cut him? That ain’t development. That’s disrespect.”

Freeman-Liberty has yet to issue a formal statement on his release, but sources close to him say he was “shocked and heartbroken.” A Chicago native who dreamed of suiting up long-term for his hometown team, he reportedly felt that he had finally broken through after a long and difficult climb from being undrafted in 2022 to becoming a Summer League standout.

“I’m speechless,” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). “We cry for guys to show heart, grit, and loyalty. Javon gave us all that, and the Bulls just tossed him aside like he didn’t matter.”

The decision also raises deeper questions about the Bulls’ overall direction. After a string of middling seasons, Chicago has failed to develop or retain its young talent, often opting to ride out veteran-heavy lineups that haven’t produced playoff results. The release of Freeman-Liberty, many say, is symptomatic of a franchise that seems to be stuck in neutral.

Analyst and former NBA coach Stan Van Gundy voiced a similar concern on NBA TV. “Look, I understand cap constraints, I understand positional logjams. But if you’re the Chicago Bulls, and you’ve had trouble developing young guys, this was a golden opportunity. Javon Freeman-Liberty was playing like he had nothing to lose—and everything to gain. He gave you 37 reasons to keep him, and you cut him anyway. That sends a brutal message to every other young player trying to break in.”

Despite the setback, there’s hope that Freeman-Liberty’s story is far from over. Multiple teams have reportedly expressed interest in signing him, including the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Toronto Raptors—all franchises known for identifying and nurturing under-the-radar talent.

“He won’t be on the market long,” said one NBA agent. “He’s got a chip on his shoulder now, and trust me—he’s going to make the Bulls regret this.”

The outcry has only grown louder as videos of Freeman-Liberty’s performance continue to circulate online, garnering millions of views. Several former NBA players have also chimed in, including Jamal Crawford and Dwyane Wade, who both praised his poise and toughness.

“Heart can’t be measured in a stat sheet,” Wade wrote. “Javon played like a man on a mission.”

For now, the Bulls organization has remained silent, offering no official press release or public comment on the decision. Head coach Billy Donovan, when asked about Freeman-Liberty’s release during a media availability, declined to elaborate beyond a generic statement about “tough choices during roster evaluation.”

Yet, for many fans, that’s not enough.

“We needed a spark. We needed someone who played with that Chicago fire,” one longtime season ticket holder said. “We finally found him—and they let him go.”

The bigger picture here is about more than just one player. Freeman-Liberty’s release has become a flashpoint in an ongoing debate about how NBA franchises value potential versus production. Is it better to invest in a player who shows promise in glimpses, or one who proves he can deliver under pressure, right now?

In Freeman-Liberty’s case, the answer seemed clear. But the Bulls opted for a different path, one that many view as short-sighted.

As for Freeman-Liberty, the next chapter of his journey may come sooner than expected. League insiders believe he could land a training camp invite with another team in the coming days, if not a full roster spot. Either way, the young guard’s fire hasn’t gone unnoticed—and the way the Bulls handled his release might only fuel his rise elsewhere.

“I’m rooting for him harder now than ever,” one fan posted. “And when he lights up the league on another team, I hope the Bulls remember the day they gave up on greatness.”

In a league where second chances are rare and opportunity is everything, Javon Freeman-Liberty just reminded the basketball world that heart, hustle, and hunger still matter. And while the Bulls chose not to see it, someone else surely will.