Former San Antonio Spurs guard Josh Primo has announced plans to retire from the NBA to focus on his mental health. The news comes a day after the team held off on a 2021 first-round draft pick.
On Friday, Spurs CEO Arcee Buford released this statement: “In the long run, we hope this decision is in the best interest of both the organization and Joshua.”
A few NBA betting sites are giving the Spurs the third-lowest odds to win the championship in 2023. See which sportsbooks have dropped their playoff odds since the release of Primo.
Josh Primo’s statement to ESPN after being released from the Spurs tonight: pic.twitter.com/H1n3k3IIcn
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 29, 2022
Josh Primo gave the following statement to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski: “I know you’re all surprised by today’s announcement.
“I’ve been looking for help to deal with my past traumas and now I’m taking this time to focus more on my mental health treatment.”
“I hope to be able to discuss these issues in the future so that I can help others who have suffered the same. I appreciate the privacy at this point.”
Primo was selected 12th overall by the Spurs in the 2021 NBA Draft. In the year He was the youngest player drafted by San Antonio since joining the league in 1976.
Josh Primo has decided to retire from the NBA to focus on his mental health and other personal issues
In his freshman season with Alabama, the guard helped lead the Crimson Tide to the SEC Championship and the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Two weeks ago, the Spurs exercised Premon’s $4.34 million team option for the 2023-24 season. Last August, the guard signed a four-year, $18.42 million rookie-scale contract.
After waiving Prime, the Spurs have $4.14 million left over for the 2022-23 season. And the team has $4.34 million in dead cap space for the 2023-24 season.
Latest Spurs 1st rd picks
Samanik – Removed
Murray – traded
White – traded
Walker – Not re-signed.
Primo – Removed #Porvida #read— JeffGSpursKENS5 (@JeffGSpursZone) October 29, 2022
Josh Primo averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 boards and 1.6 assists in 50 games during his rookie season. He also shot 37.4% from the floor and 30.7% from downtown.
Also on January 4, 2022, in the Spurs’ 129–104 loss to the Toronto Raptors, the rookie scored a career-high 15 points in 28 minutes off the bench. He made 6 of 16 shots overall.
Last season, San Antonio finished 34-48 (.415) and 10th in the Western Conference. The team then lost to the New Orleans Pelicans in the playoffs.
The 19-year-old averaged 7 points, 3.3 boards and 4.5 assists in four games this season. He also shot 34.6% from the field and 25% from beyond the arc.
In losses to the Charlotte Hornets and Minnesota Timberwolves this season, Primo finished with 10 points and 3 rebounds in both games.
It is not yet known when Josh Primo will return.
