Canadian basketball player
Joshua Lincoln Alexander Primo (born December 24, 2002) is a Canadian professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
High school career
Primo played basketball for Huntington Prep School in Huntington, West Virginia, where he was teammates with JT Thor.[1] He transferred to Royal Crown Academic School in Scarborough, Toronto.[2] Primo reclassified to the 2020 class and graduated early.[3] Considered a five-star recruit by 247Sports, he committed to playing college basketball for Alabama, choosing the Crimson Tide over Creighton.[4]
College career
In his freshman season, Primo was the youngest player in college basketball. He averaged 8.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game and was named to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman Team.[5] Primo missed three games with a left medial collateral ligament sprain.[6] On April 21, 2021, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.[7] However, on June 30, Primo announced he would remain in the draft due to a strong performance at the NBA Draft Combine.[8]
Professional career
San Antonio Spurs (2021–2022)
Primo was selected with the 12th pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs.[9][10] Primo was later included in the 2021 NBA Summer League roster of the Spurs.[11] On August 11, 2021, the San Antonio Spurs announced that they had signed Primo.[12] On October 20, 2021, Primo made his NBA debut, coming off the bench in the final five minutes with three points in a 123–97 win over the Orlando Magic. Primo was the youngest player who attended college to play in the NBA.[13] On October 27, 2021, Primo received his first assignment to Austin Spurs.[14]
Primo was the youngest player in the league during the 2021–22 season.[15]
Indecent exposure allegations
Primo was waived by the Spurs on October 28, 2022.[16] In a statement released by ESPN through Adrian Wojnarowski, he is seeking mental health treatment due to a "previous trauma".[17] The next day, it was revealed that Primo allegedly exposed himself to several women.[18] In November, the team's sports psychologist filed a lawsuit against Primo and the team, alleging multiple incidents of indecent exposure.[19] Primo's lawyer then released a statement which denied any wrongdoing, asserting that any exposure was unwitting, and that the accuser was not acting in good faith.[20]
On December 8, 2023, District Attorney Joe Gonzales announced his office was declining charges of indecent exposure due to insufficient evidence. [21]
Los Angeles Clippers (2023–present)
On September 29, 2023, Primo was suspended for four games without pay.[22] Later that day, he signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.[23] On November 15, 2023, the Clippers converted Primo's two-way contract to a standard contract.[24]
National team career
Primo represented Canada at the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup in Greece. At age 16, he was the youngest player on the team and averaged 4.2 points per game.[25][26]
