The Spurs dismissed Primo at 6:23 p.m. on October 28, just before their home game against the Chicago Bulls. Spurs Sports & Entertainment CEO RC Buford was the only one to make a statement.
Joshua Primo was released after being accused of exposing himself to several women
RC Buford said: “It is our hope that, in the long run, this decision will serve the best interest of both the organization and Joshua.”
Why would an organization that made Primo one of the faces of its youth movement suddenly let him go? According to a new report from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, the reason for the cut is shocking.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski, Primo was released because he “exposed himself to women” on multiple occasions.
While Primo’s on-court potential continues to pique the interest of several NBA teams, his issues are clearly larger than basketball.
After being let go by the Spurs on Friday, Primo issued the following statement: “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. 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.”
Even at their peak, the San Antonio Spurs were rarely at the center of the NBA world’s attention. However, the league was taken aback by San Antonio’s decision to release 19-year-old guard Joshua Primo within an hour of game time. The Spurs’ twelfth overall pick in last year’s draft played a key role in their rotation and was widely regarded as one of their top young prospects.
The 19-year-old young player is facing all charges
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, a former Spurs employee has accused Joshua Primo of exposing himself to her. Tony Buzbee, who represented women in the lawsuit against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, has been hired to represent her, according to Charania.
Josh Primo was being hailed by PATFO as a franchise player. He was the face of the new “SELF” marketing partnership. He’s on billboards in SA. 2 weeks ago his 3rd year option was exercised. Something extremely abhorrent must have happened behind the scenes and RECENTLY.
— Nic (@NicYarbro) October 28, 2022
Primo was a late-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Coming out of Alabama, he played in a limited role, but his stock quickly rose during the NBA Draft Combine and subsequent workouts. San Antonio made him a focal point of their marketing campaigns and invested heavily in his development. His contract was extended for a third year just before the season began.
The NBA league offices are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into Primo’s actions and how San Antonio handled its decision-making during the process.
Primo has only played in 54 NBA games. Let’s hope he gets the help he needs soon. Unfortunately, nothing he does in the future will make up for his previous actions. Primo, regardless of his age, should have known better.
