During the offseason, the San Antonio Spurs used guard Josh Primo in their ticket-selling campaign. On Friday, the NBA team waived the former first-round draft choice.
“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 and Entertainment CEO RC Buford in a press release from the team.
The release went on to say: “The Spurs organization, including front-office executives, coaching staff and players, will have no additional comments to share at this time.”
About three hours after the Spurs’ announcement, Primo released a statement to ESPN.
“I know that you all are surprised by today’s announcement,” Primo’s statement read. “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.”
Primo joined San Antonio from Alabama as the 12th selection in the 2021 NBA Draft. As a rookie, Primo averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 50 games while also scoring at a 17-points-per-game clip in 12 games with the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League.
This year, Primo played in only one of the Spurs’ preseason games because of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee. But ready to play in San Antonio’s preseason finale, he scored 23 points off the bench against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Primo played in San Antonio’s first four games of the 2022-23 season. He averaged 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 23.3 minutes per game.
Primo missed Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with what was described as a sore left glute, and he was on the injury report as out for Friday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls because of the injury, too.
Before Friday night’s game, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich was asked about Primo’s release.
“Have you all gotten the statement we’ve made?” Popovich said, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News. “That’s all I choose to say about that right now. We are going to stick with what we told you all.”
The shocking transaction comes 18 days after the Spurs exercised their option for a third season on Primo’s rookie contract.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
