9:30pm: “I know that you all are surprised by today’s announcement,” Primo said in a statement to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). “I’ve been seeking help to deal with previous trauma I suffered and will now take this time to focus on my mental health treatment more fully. I hope to be able to discuss these issues in the future so I can help others who have suffered in a similar way. I appreciate privacy at this time.”
6:32pm: In an absolutely stunning move, the Spurs announced that they have waived second-year guard Joshua Primo, the No. 12 overall pick of last year’s draft (Twitter link via Andscape’s Marc J. Spears).
“It is our hope that, in the long run, this decision will serve the best interest of both the organization and Joshua,” said Spurs Sports & Entertainment CEO RC Buford.
“The Spurs organization, including front office executives, coaching staff and players, will have no additional comments to share at this time.”
When asked about releasing Primo prior to Friday’s game against the Bulls, head coach Gregg Popovich declined to elaborate, per Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link).
Primo, 19, averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 50 games (16 starts, 19.3 minutes) as a rookie last season, but struggled with efficiency, posting a .374/.307/.746 shooting slash line. He was the youngest player drafted last year and won’t turn 20 years old until December.
Through four games this season (23.3 minutes), Primo is averaging 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists on .346/.250/.778 shooting.
The Spurs exercised their 2023/24 team option on Primo a couple weeks ago, so he will earn a guaranteed $4.1MM this season and $4.3MM in ’23/24. Unless he’s claimed on waivers, San Antonio will be on the hook for both of those figures over the next two seasons.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, a rival team could claim Primo using cap room or an exception, but obviously would have to be pretty confident about what transpired given he was so abruptly cut. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link), the Spurs had been “excited” about Primo’s development and future.
“Joshua has an uncanny maturity about him, kind of a steady demeanor,” Popovich said in January. “He is not awed by the NBA or anything like that. He makes good decisions. He definitely knows how to play. It’s just a matter of getting stronger and aware that these are men and they are coming after your head, so to speak. He just has to get used to that physicality and all that sort of thing.”
Many NBA executives are scrambling to get to the bottom of what might have prompted the Spurs to waive last year’s lottery pick, especially after already guaranteeing his salary for next season.
“He’s a talent,” one executive texted Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). “Everyone is trying to find out what the hell happened.”
Prior to releasing him, the Spurs had listed Primo as out due to left glute soreness for Friday’s contest, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN relays (via Twitter).
Primo, a native of Ontario, Canada, spent one year at Alabama prior to turning pro.
Yeahhhh…. he had to have raped someone or killed someone for this to happen so suddenly. The Spurs obviously know what he did, but it had to have been really bad
Did he hurt his girlfriend? Because this doesn’t make any sense.
slept with pops granddaughter.
Some are saying he has a major drug problem right now but sadly we will never really know the truth
I saw a tweet saying he was involved in a murder.
That was fake the account had like 100 subs and no credibility
Great comment. Let him explain first and he actualy did explain a bit. Most of the comments here just prove you are bunch of immature haters. He killed or raped someone, because was waived by team ? Grow up kid, they live real life out there and he is 19 years old. Joke.
this aged poorly
This is serious. Who was responsible for drafting this guy. Seems to me he has the talent. To stay in the NBA. This tells me. Spurs are all in on Wembanyama sweepstakes.
This is crazy news.
No it sounds like he broke some rule that is serious. We should know soon because TMZ will be releasing what happened.
Yeah …. he could have done something. Or been involved in something bad. It would have to be serious for this to happen.
I guess we are still trying to get the truth. Like article says. Spurs passed on a lot of talent for this kid.
Wow!!
Wonder who will claim/sign Joshua Primo.
Pathetic choice by the Spurs to give no explanation.
They don’t owe anyone an explanation. They said enough just by releasing him.
Respectful to primo you mean
They are hoping someone claims him off waivers i guess?
They are hoping someone claims him off waivers i guess?
this aged poorly
It has to be a major issue otherwise Spurs can easily trade him ….
Example would be illegal thing he did
I hope primo can get passed this and i hope the rest of these young spurs can continue to keep improving. Start of the season has been nice. They are playing well. Keldon, vassell and tre all taking nice leaps so far.
It is going to be something very serious. San Antonio thought he had a chance to be a “franchise” player. He did something bad.
He challenged Pop by telling him no self respecting sommelier would order a Merlot with fish. Give the Spurs credit on how to TANK….
This ain’t about tanking. Getting the worst record only gets you a 14% chance for 1st pick.
ok, I legit laughed out loud. well done
As they win again
Just speculating, but wondering if it has to do with someone else employed by the Spurs and that’s why they’re not releasing info yet. Don’t want to out a victim or something. I honestly don’t know, but just a thought.
If Spurs released him for a “consensual” relationship with an employee ….. then Primo can expect to have multiple teams placing waiver wire claims.
This is extremely surprising. At this point, the no comment brings on the possible assumption that it is some sort of legal investigation, b/c you cant comment on an ongoing legal investigation. That being said, I’m not a fan of speculating on things nobody knows. Hopefully everything and everyone is ok, and it seems the Spurs alluded to this potentially being a good thing to help him, so who knows what is happening. It could be mental health related, and needing to step back for a while.
I was really interested to see how this kid developed going into next year
with his statement sounds like he doesn’t expect to get picked up once other NBA teams figure out what he did.
Spurs could have had Moses Moody but instead wind up having to basically punt the #12 overall pick in the draft – massive Spurs L, sorry SA fans, that’s brutal.
8
Oops, yes Moody was selected by the Warriors at 12, you see the typo…
Crazy….
Primo must have done something that deplorable for this kind of exit.
Larry Sanders vibes anyone …….. taking the money first, then out comes the mental health issues.
The Sanders thing was a while ago so I’m a little fuzzy on the all the details but I seem to recall both sides being somewhat transparent about it – that Sanders wasn’t mentally in it, etc?
If it’s just mental health and Primo himself is being forthright about it it’s a little puzzling as to why the Spurs wouldn’t have done a joint statement w/ him and been forthcoming about the exact reason for the parting of ways
This isnt those vibes at all…mental health? You dont get fired from the team for that. This has got to be something much, much worse.
Like I said, taking the bag first, then out comes the mental health stuff …… like Sanders did, eh.
Now, it may turn out something worst, like I also said it’s probably something deplorable …… let’s wait what Woj finds out.
He exposed himself to some woman, so either has a drug problem or some serious sexual problem towards women
Lots of comments speculating negativity here. Sad to see y’all not waiting to know something before judging him.
People just saying what everyone is thinking. Do you think they released him because he did something good?
this aged poorly
For Pops to give up on this kid. A franchise talent, they thought. Its got to be something illegal, major. Or it can be a physical ailment.
It still gets them in top 5 of draft. That is for sure a major talent.
Primo issued the following statement through ESPN: “I know that you all are surprised by today’s announcement. I’ve been seeking help to deal with previous trauma I suffered and will now take this time to focus on my mental health treatment more fully,” Primo said in a statement. “I hope to be able to discuss these issues in the future so I can help others who have suffered in a similar way. I appreciate privacy at this time.”
Must have been bad trauma. If you cant play a game you love. Its still a terrible blow to Spurs rebuilding. Best for Spurs to get as high a pick as possible.
Hope he gets it together. Plenty of life ahead for Primo.
Slow down Vince McMahon. Wait for all the news first
You don’t get waived for that
If he doesn’t want to play. And Spurs understand his issues. Why not waive him.
Do you think they released him because he killed someone?
I’d guess r-ped
Nba ped suspension is 20 games
Pop mentioned that he was having issues with the physicality of the game. Could that be a clue?
Does this board value lottery balls more than team wins?
Any time a non contender loses a helpful body you’ll find hoards of folks who feel it’s a good thing for the team
It seems there’s a stronger sentiment to tank by fans than the actual teams today…thats pretty sad
But this year there’s a 7’4″durant gisnnis mutant in the draft
But this year there’s a 7’4″durant gisnnis mutant in the draft .