Why did Spurs waive Joshua Primo? San Antonio shockingly parts ways with 2021 first-round draft pick

The Spurs stunned the NBA world on Friday night, announcing shortly before their game against the Bulls that they had waived Joshua Primo.

The 19-year-old guard, who was in the midst of his second season with San Antonio, leaves the team after playing in just four games this season.

“It is our hope that, in the long run, this decision will serve the best interest of both the organization and Joshua,” Spurs CEO R.C. Buford said in a statement.

Upon seeing the Spurs make the move official, even some of the NBA’s biggest newsbreakers were asking the big question: Why did the Spurs decide to cut ties with Primo so early in his career?

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Why did the Spurs waive Joshua Primo?

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich and the rest of the organization had declined to comment on Primo’s status beyond the statement that Buford issued on Friday night.

Primo later addressed his release in a separate statement (via ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski):

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.

The next day, ESPN’s Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne provided a little more context to the situation, reporting that Primo’s surprising release “stemmed from multiple alleged instances of Primo exposing himself to women.”

The Athletic’s Shams Charania added more context after that, reporting that Primo exposed himself to a former Spurs female employee. That unnamed employee has hired Tony Buzbee as her attorney — the same attorney who represented the women in the sexual misconduct lawsuits against NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson.

The Spurs selected Primo with the No. 12 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 50 games as a rookie. He also spent time with the G League’s Austin Spurs during the 2021-22 season.

Earlier this month, San Antonio announced that it had exercised the third-year option on Primo’s contract. Through four games this season, he had increased his per-game averages to 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists.