Pop details Primo’s G League plan
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich really likes what he has seen so far from Josh Primo, but that doesn’t mean the teen rookie is done with the G League.
“We want him to have more time in Austin for obvious reasons,” Popovich said before Tuesday’s game against New York. “He needs to mature in every way, shape and form because of his age.
“But, having said that, he has a confidence that belies his age. He’s pretty steady in his emotions, shows a great affinity for the game, understands what is going on better than most people, and he is willing to stick his nose in.”
With backup swingman Devin Vassell out the last three games with a quad contusion, Primo has spent time with the big club after playing primarily in the G League. He had a solid outing in Monday’s 108-104 loss at Phoenix, finishing with five points, two rebounds, three steals and four blocks in a season-best 18 minutes before logging 15 scoreless minutes in the 121-109 loss to the Knicks.
Primo has flashed his potential with the Austin Spurs, averaging 18.4 points, 4.6 assists, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. He has scored in double figures in each of his seven games, including a 27-point outing against Greensboro on Dec. 3.
Primo, who turns 19 on Dec. 24, is the league’s youngest player after the Spurs drafted him 12th overall following a season at Alabama.
Popovich stressed that Primo needs more seasoning in the G League while making it clear he’ll get minutes with the Spurs while veterans heal.
With Vassell and starting forward Keldon Johnson (sprained right ankle) doubtful for Thursday’s home game against Denver, Primo will be available for more time against the Nuggets. On Wednesday, the Spurs sent 26-year-old rookie center Jock Landale and rookie forward Joe Wieskamp to Austin.
“The experience he gets in the G League is important for the physicality and all that sort of thing,” Popovich said of Primo.“but he is someone we will look at very closely just like we played him in the last few games because of injuries. If we get a chance, we will give him those minutes so he will get a taste. But the minutes in the G League will be more beneficial overall at this point.”
Pop says Samanic’s future bright in N.Y.
Luka Samanic was a topic of conversation at Popovich’s session with reporters before Tuesday’s game after the former Spur was named G League Player of the Week.
Samanic, who signed with the Knicks after the Spurs waived him in October before the start of the season, received the honor after averaging 30.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists to lead the Westchester Knicks to a 2-1 mark.
“He’s got a lot of talent,” Popovich said. “He’s done a good job. At this point, the sky is the limit for him if he just sticks with it and does the things he has to to improve defensively and being consistent with things. He’s a good kid. He’s got a lot of talent, so the future is bright for him.”
The Spurs selected Samanic with the 19th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but the lanky 6-foot-11 Croatian forward never showed enough on the court for them to make a long-term commitment to him.
Samanic, 21, had two years left on his rookie contract when the Spurs sent him packing. The club was just weeks away from a deadline to pick up his option for the 2022-23 season when it let him go.
In his two seasons with the Spurs, Samanic averaged 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 9.9 minutes over 36 games. He also appeared in 39 games for the Austin Spurs in the G League, averaging 16.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 29.1 minutes.
“He’s a good, young prospect,” New York coach Tom Thibodeau said. “He has to keep working.”
Pride Night to be Saturday at AT&T
Saturday’s game against Denver is Pride Night at the AT&T Center.
Love Wins Spurs flags honoring the LGBTQ community will be given to the first 2,000 fans in the building.