Tag: Greg Popovich

Spurs waive former lottery pick Josh Primo following sexual misconduct allegations

Josh Primo cleared waivers and is now an unrestricted free agent.

When the Spurs shockingly parted ways with Josh Primo on Friday evening, it was the fastest that an NBA team had ever waived a former lottery pick.

The details that have emerged since the news broke are ugly. While the former Alabama guard initially said he was focusing on his mental health treatment, ESPN reported the decision was made following multiple alleged instances in which the 19-year-old exposed himself to women.

USA TODAY’s Jeff Zilgitt has confirmed that Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee will represent a former employee of the Spurs who alleges that Primo exposed himself to her. Buzbee also represented several women who accused NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct.

According to the San Antonio Express-News, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office hasn’t received any complaints against Primo as of today. Primo, meanwhile, cleared waivers and became an unrestricted free agent on Monday. His short-lived tenure with San Antonio ended far before anyone could have ever expected.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich denied further comment beyond the initial statement from the team, but he had previously described Primo as having an “uncanny maturity” for someone his age and considered him a “respectful kid” who makes good decisions.

Hindsight is 20/20, but I characterized Primo similarly during my interactions with him during the pre-draft process and on the night of the 2021 NBA Draft, which For The Win watched alongside Primo and his family. Here is what I wrote:

“He was somebody who understood the proverbial it and is willing to accept whatever role it takes for him to take the next steps in his path to success. All things considered, it was very easy to see why San Antonio decided he was worth the pick.”

The Spurs were confident enough to pick Primo at No. 12 overall and they clearly believed in his long-term potential, but the decision to move on was never about basketball. The organization had just exercised its team option on Primo’s contract earlier in the month, and he will remain on the payroll with a guaranteed contract for all of this season and all of next season.

They were giving him a much bigger role within the offense, too. In fact, at the time of the news, he actually had the highest year-over-year total increase in dribbles per touch (+2.03) as well as the largest percentage increase in seconds per touch (+48.8%) of any player in the NBA.

None of that mattered to the franchise when they took swift measures to move on from Primo, though. What actually matters is that Primo hurt people. His alleged actions are gross and had consequences, and the front office acted accordingly.

The Tip-Off

Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Russell Westbrook enjoyed a fun moment with the fans after the Lakers secured their first win of the season, and it was great to see:

“Westbrook’s productivity is considerably better when he is given the keys to the offense with the bench squad, so it’s not shocking to see this work out so far. But the decision especially paid off on Sunday when the Lakers got their first win of the season.

The former MVP finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. He was 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. But most important: His plus-minus (18) in the game was the best of any player on either team.

It was a great change of pace to watch Westbrook enjoy himself on the floor.”

If he is able to become a positively impactful player off the bench, that changes everything for the Lakers.

One To Watch

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

(All odds via Tipico.)

Nets (-340, -7.5) vs. Pacers (+260), O/U 235.5, 7:30 PM ET

The Nets are the most embarrassingly bad team in the NBA and the Pacers legitimately have two of the more exciting young players (Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin) of the season. I’ll take Indiana with the points, but the favorable money line is attractive as well.

Shootaround

For The Win

— Grant Williams stayed in character in a Batman costume after the Celtics game, and Jayson Tatum was unamused

— Christian Wood tells HoopsHype Michael Scotto he wants to be an All-Star

— Celtics Wire’s Justin Quinn spoke to Jahlil Okafor about his efforts to return to the NBA

— Cole Huff provided fantasy basketball targets on the waiver wire

Greg Popovich blasts Robert Kraft for ‘hypocritical’ social justice stances

San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich did not hold back in his opinions on Robert Kraft.

Count San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich as a person who is not a fan of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Popovich conducted an interview with the New York Times on Saturday and gave his thoughts on racial inequality in America. The NFL was brought up as a topic of conversation, more specifically how it handled the Colin Kaepernick situation and Roger Goodell’s recent apology on behalf of the league.

In another part of the interview, it came up that  Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Kraft had donated to President Trump’s inaugural committee. Popovich let his stance be known on that particular subject.

“It’s just hypocritical,” Popovich said. “It’s incongruent. It doesn’t make sense. People aren’t blind. Do you go to your staff and your players and talk about injustices and democracy and how to protest? I don’t get it. I think they put themselves in a position that’s untenable.”

Popovich has always let his opinion be heard. The five-time NBA champion and three-time Coach of the Year is certainly one of the most recognizable faces in the sporting world.

[lawrence-related id=89694]

Gregg Popovich unloads on Donald Trump in wake of George Floyd killing

“I’m appalled that we have a leader who can’t say ‘black lives matter,’” Popovich said.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has never been reluctant to express his opinion about matters of social importance. In the wake of George Floyd’s death, Popovich side stepped the usual social media statement and spoke to The Nation’s Dave Zirn about his thoughts on white privilege, the current protests sweeping the country and what he sees as a vacuum of leadership in President Trump.

“White Americans have avoided reckoning with this problem forever, because it’s been our privilege to be able to avoid it. That also has to change,” Pop told The Nation.

Never not candid, Pop delivered an absolutley blistering rebuke of Trump’s handling of the Floyd killing.

If Trump had a brain, even if it was 99 percent cynical, he would come out and say something to unify people. But he doesn’t care about bringing people together. Even now. That’s how deranged he is. It’s all about him. It’s all about what benefits him personally. It’s never about the greater good. And that’s all he’s ever been.”

When Trump was first elected, Pop initially said he was reluctant to share his opinions, because as a rich white guy, he’s not sure anyone should care what he thinks. That’s long since changed. He’s spoken out before about Trump’s presidency, and didn’t hold back this time around.

“He’s not just divisive. He’s a destroyer. To be in his presence makes you die. He will eat you alive for his own purposes. I’m appalled that we have a leader who can’t say ‘black lives matter.’ That’s why he hides in the White House basement. He is a coward. He creates a situation and runs away like a grade-schooler. Actually, I think it’s best to ignore him. There is nothing he can do to make this better because of who he is: a deranged idiot.”

He also leveled criticism at Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.

In the end, what we have is a fool in place of a president, while the person who really runs the country, Senator Mitch McConnell, destroys the United States for generations to come. McConnell has destroyed and degraded our judicial system. He has tried to destroy heath care. He’s destroyed the environment. He’s the master and Trump’s the stooge, and what’s funny is that Trump doesn’t even know it. Trump’s always wanted to be part of the in-group, but McConnell is an in-group of one and Trump plays the fool.”

You can read Pop’s full take on Trump here.

[lawrence-related id=923646,923609,923606]

 

WATCH: Bill Self says Spurs speculation has ‘absolutely zero truth’

Bill Self shoots down speculation that he’s in line for Gregg Popovich’s job.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich hasn’t even announced his retirement, but Kansas head coach Bill Self wants to set the record straight about the speculation that he is in line for the job in San Antonio.

Self has a close relationship with Spurs general manager R.C.Buford. and ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg recently publicly predicted that Self will take over for Pop once the legendary coach retires. But Self says it hasn’t been discussed.

Speaking to News4 San Antonio, the Jayhawks head coach said, “Well, first of all, I haven’t talked to Seth in five or six months. And secondly, and most importantly, I haven’t talked to R.C. ever about it, and he was in my wedding and I was in his so I’ve known him pretty well and we’ve never once discussed it. And thirdly, I think it’s kind of an insult to the Spurs because they have the greatest coach maybe our sport’s potentially ever known — certainly the NBA one of the two or three best of all time for sure. So, yeah, there was absolutely zero truth to that.”

Popovich has voiced his frustration with the way the NBA has evolved in recent seasons, but he still does have 5 NBA titles and has been named NBA Coach of the Year three times. He’ll likely have to say in who does replace him whenever the time comes.

Perhaps Becky Hammon, who Popovich’s been grooming as an assistant coach for years, would be more open to the position than Self seems to be.

[vertical-gallery id=879984]

Bill Self says possibility of him replacing Popovich as Spurs head coach has ‘absolutely zero truth’

Spurs head coach Greg Popovich hasn’t even announced his retirement, but Kansas head coach Bill Self wants to set the record straight about the possibility that he is in line for the job in San Antonio.

Spurs head coach Greg Popovich hasn’t even announced his retirement, but Kansas head coach Bill Self wants to set the record straight about the possibility that he is in line for the job in San Antonio.

Bill Self says possibility of him replacing Popovich as Spurs head coach has ‘absolutely zero truth’

Spurs head coach Greg Popovich hasn’t even announced his retirement, but Kansas head coach Bill Self wants to set the record straight about the possibility that he is in line for the job in San Antonio.

Spurs head coach Greg Popovich hasn’t even announced his retirement, but Kansas head coach Bill Self wants to set the record straight about the possibility that he is in line for the job in San Antonio.