Gregg Popovich: Josh Primo has an ‘uncanny’ maturity about him
San Antonio Spurs rookie Josh Primo entered the 2021-22 season as the youngest player in the NBA but head coach Gregg Popovich believes the 19-year-old has shown maturity beyond his years.
Primo has often impressed his Spurs teammates with the poise and control he plays with when he steps onto the court. He plays confidently but can also make all of the reads that a seasoned veteran would make, from passing to keeping the ball himself.
The team set forth a plan prior to the season that Primo would spend time with San Antonio and in the NBA G League with the Austin Spurs. The team views Austin as a great way for him to develop and see consistent playing time, something that has been sporadic in the NBA.
Popovich joked that he would love to see Primo stay with San Antonio.
If I could really do what I wanted to do and didn’t care about anything else in the world, I’d throw him in the frying pan like we did Tony Parker. Tony was 19 but the difference was Tony played a couple of years against grown men in the European leagues before he came over.
With the Spurs dealing with injuries and players in the health and safety protocol, Primo has played a larger role as of late. He has appeared in each of the five games for the Spurs and is coming off a career-high 15-point performance on Tuesday versus the Toronto Raptors.
The outing versus the Raptors offered a glimpse into the future of what he can bring to the court. Popovich can already see some areas of his game that he has picked up quickly, such as navigating the pick-and-roll and his decision-making.
Joshua has an uncanny maturity about him, (a) kind of a steady demeanor. He is not awed by the NBA or anything like that. He makes good decisions. He definitely knows how to play and understands the game. (It is) just a matter of getting stronger and aware that these are men and are coming after your head, so to speak.
With the G League season set to resume this week, the team will likely send Primo back to Austin once more players return from injury and the protocol. He is averaging 17 points, 4.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 12 appearances, and could continue to use those minutes to develop.
The Spurs certainly view Primo as a big part of the future, and he has shown why in a small sample size this season. The organization has found great success in developing players and Primo is poised to be the next one in line to benefit.
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