The Penthouse Of Josh Primo

[Atl Spur]

They have to be showcasing Forbes......hopefully!������

[Drom John]

The Ringer: Jonathan Tjarks: Scenes From a COVID-Disrupted G League Showcase

Primo Content

Tjarks: Josh Primo might have been the most surprising pick of the first round. He was widely expected to be a late first-round pick after averaging 8.1 points per game in his freshman season at Alabama. But the Spurs saw a chance to buy low and drafted him no. 12 overall.

Primo couldn’t do much at Alabama. He was one of the youngest players in college basketball and was on an experienced team that won the SEC and made the Sweet 16. It has been the same story for Primo as a rookie. He has played in only eight games in San Antonio and has barely seen the court. That’s where the G League becomes so important for his development.

When Primo plays for the Austin Spurs, he’s making up not only for the opportunities he didn’t get in the NBA, but also in college. The 18-year-old is averaging 17.3 points on 41.9 percent shooting and 5.1 assists per game in the G League this season. He more than held his own in a matchup with the G League Ignite team on Wednesday, going toe-to-toe on both ends of the floor with future lottery picks Jaden Hardy and Scoot Henderson.

The skills are there. Primo has good size for a point guard (6-foot-4 and 189) and the ability to shoot off the dribble and play above the rim. The most encouraging part is how natural he looks at the position. He runs the offense, moves the ball, and doesn’t get rattled by opposing defenders.

Playing well in the G League doesn’t necessarily mean all that much, but it is a good first step. The Spurs don’t have to rush. Time with the ball in your hands is the most precious resource in the NBA, and Primo would never get it if he were playing with Dejounte Murray and Derrick White at the next level.

There’s a lot of room for Primo to improve. He turns 19 the day before Christmas, making him younger than two of the Ignite players (Hardy and MarJon Beauchamp) expected to go in the first round of the 2022 draft. If he needs the next two seasons in the G League to develop, he would still be younger than some of the players taken in the 2023 draft.

San Antonio took a big gamble on Primo and there’s no way to know at this point whether it will pay off. But it looks a lot better after his first 11 games in the G League.

[JuneJive]

Spending time on ball, lots of reps / minutes is surely gonna help his development more than the occasional minutes at the big club.

That's why I don't understand those advocating for him being with the Spurs knowing very well he won't get those kind of reps there.

[Spursfanfromafar]

The Ringer: Jonathan Tjarks: Scenes From a COVID-Disrupted G League Showcase

Nice read. But isn't he 6'6''?

[emanueldavidginobili]

Nice read. But isn't he 6'6''?

Yeah I have seen 6'6 and 6'4 not sure which one he is but he looks decently big out there at the PG position.

[MultiTroll]

Sure seems like Primo Suave could also play the 2. I don't want to see him get pigeonholed into a You Must Be a PG and only a PG every trip down the floor.

Todays NBA has become somewhat positionless.

Don't want to see him forced into PG only like senile Grandpa tried to do with DJ. "Pattern your game after Chrissy Paul."
Fark that was detrimental.

On many transition possessions, ie ball gets tipped away and/or rebound comes out to whichever player happens to get it........
the ensuing trip up the floor could have Primo Suave on the wing. He is a most excellent finisher from what i have seen.

Primo
DJ
White
Lonnie
Vassel......all great in fastbreak tansition imo.

[Sugus]

Sure seems like Primo Suave could also play the 2. I don't want to see him get pigeonholed into a You Must Be a PG and only a PG every trip down the floor.

Todays NBA has become somewhat positionless.

Don't want to see him forced into PG only like senile Grandpa tried to do with DJ. "Pattern your game after Chrissy Paul."
Fark that was detrimental.

On many transition possessions, ie ball gets tipped away and/or rebound comes out to whichever player happens to get it........
the ensuing trip up the floor could have Primo Suave on the wing. He is a most excellent finisher from what i have seen.

Primo
DJ
White
Lonnie
Vassel......all great in fastbreak tansition imo.

Huh? Primo isn't being "pigeonholed" at all. As you said, the modern NBA is positionless in the guard/forward/bigs divisions, and the one skill that's mandatory for a SG (shooting), he already has in spades, so there's no problem with developing aspects of his game that he hasn't polished, and can provide him better versatility and flexibility. Not to mention even SGs do a lot of ball-handling, especially the star kind... Manu, Harden, those kinds of guys.


Really looks like you're continuously picking straws just to be mad at something the team does at this point.

[KingKev]

Primo looks more like a 2 who can distribute versus a true PG in my eyes but it's all nomenclature, especially in this day and age of the NBA. They should be trying to develop him into a volume scorer with his multi level scoring ability regardless of what guard spot he plays at. Remember ppl on this board thought Walker was going to be a PG in his early days LOL.

[emanueldavidginobili]

Draws/writes with his left hand.

[BillMc]

Haven't been paying attention. How's he been playing in the G-league?

[Dejounte]

The Spurs are last in the league in ISO possessions. If Primo meets his potential, he will elevate that. I see him as our DeMar of the future, but hopefully without us being too reliant on him to score. With some guys like Murray finally developing into a nice player, I don’t see us relying on Primo too much. I think it will be fun as next year when Primo gets those consistent minutes. Can’t wait.

[Sugus]

Draws/writes with his left hand.

Literally James Harden

[objective]

Hopefully he doesn't become overly conservative with his passes because of turnovers caused by g-league talent around him.

[exstatic]

Hopefully he doesn't become overly conservative with his passes because of turnovers caused by g-league talent around him.

They’re not all caused by teammates. Many of them were just foolish, or the result of very loose handles.

[Mnky]

Is it just me, or does he look taller already?

He seems to have slimmed up at the showcase. Was being more active. Still seems like he's definitely a ball hog still who's effort relates to having the ball in has hand. Enjoyed seeing him be most consistently active though. I think the G league is really going to benefit him tbh. He is still a kid at heart, and it's very clear.

[exstatic]

Is it just me, or does he look taller already?

He seems to have slimmed up at the showcase. Was being more active. Still seems like he's definitely a ball hog still who's effort relates to having the ball in has hand. Enjoyed seeing him be most consistently active though. I think the G league is really going to benefit him tbh. He is still a kid at heart, and it's very clear.

Um, the Spurs WANT the ball in his hands, all of the time. He’s not being a ball hog, he’s following instructions. There are only two other players on the whole roster with NBA chops, Weiscamp and Cacok, and they both get plenty of touches. The rest are either good gleague players or average gleague players. You don’t want the ball out of his hands and in theirs.

He had 7 TOs again last night, and I’m beginning to understand why. On one fast break, he fed a direct, chest level pass to Cacok for a dunk, but it was damn near picked off because a couple of their players got back. It needed to be a bounce pass or an oop. Throw it up, and let Cacok go get it, and it has zero chance to be picked off.

[BackHome]

I agree but all in all I think he is improving from coming from a team where he would run to a corner and shoot the 3 ball to know having to actually run PG for a team is a tough challenge for anyone. I think it will take time but it is improving his handles and giving him experience in having the ball in his hands which are all good things.

Yeah, he will never be a true PG he can be someone like DEROZZ if he keeps working on his handles but yeah he definitely needed the G League this year to reach his true potential. It will be interesting to see where he fits in next year and I guess will get a glimpse when Walker contract is up. As of right now we have 4 SG - White, Walker, Forbes, and Primo - next season so will see what happens with Forbes and Walker on there ending contracts.

[exstatic]

I agree but all in all I think he is improving from coming from a team where he would run to a corner and shoot the 3 ball to know having to actually run PG for a team is a tough challenge for anyone. I think it will take time but it is improving his handles and giving him experience in having the ball in his hands which are all good things.

Yeah, he will never be a true PG he can be someone like DEROZZ if he keeps working on his handles but yeah he definitely needed the G League this year to reach his true potential. It will be interesting to see where he fits in next year and I guess will get a glimpse when Walker contract is up. As of right now we have 4 SG - White, Walker, Forbes, and Primo - next season so will see what happens with Forbes and Walker on there ending contracts.

I think if they thought Forbes was anything but a one year stopgap, they would have signed him to a 1+1 or a 2+1 instead of a one year deal. Lonnie is a coin flip. If he’ll take Forbes money, he could be back. Otherwise, Primo could absorb most of their 37 minutes, with the balance going to Vassell.

[MultiTroll]

oops

[MultiTroll]

Spending XMass at Austin.

[BatManu20]

HBD Youngblood.

[DAF86]

How's this guy doing in the G-league? He shows some promise. He needs to make that click and start believing that he belongs.

[Mnky]

The Spurs are last in the league in ISO possessions. If Primo meets his potential, he will elevate that. I see him as our DeMar of the future, but hopefully without us being too reliant on him to score. With some guys like Murray finally developing into a nice player, I don’t see us relying on Primo too much. I think it will be fun as next year when Primo gets those consistent minutes. Can’t wait.

A Demar with a 3 pt shot would definitely take them to another level offensively.

I have a feeling he night stretch out a little more. Maybe get between that 2-3 body. If he can get closer to a 3 body, that'll just be amazing luck.

[exstatic]

How's this guy doing in the G-league? He shows some promise. He needs to make that click and start believing that he belongs.

He’s good right now in a complementary role, but the Spurs see more. He’s the guy in Austin. He controls the rock, and runs the offense. He averages 6 assists. Unfortunately, he also averages 4.7 TOs, and has had 7 each of the last two games. Still needs work. Since the gleague season is going to be delayed with all of the emergency call ups, the three Austin guys will probably be up for the rest of the home stand, tomorrow and Wednesday.

[Dejounte]

A Demar with a 3 pt shot would definitely take them to another level offensively.

I have a feeling he night stretch out a little more. Maybe get between that 2-3 body. If he can get closer to a 3 body, that'll just be amazing luck.

He is consistently blocking the shots of guys 6’7” and up when he’s guarding them one on one. His height is fine for a wing (2 and 3).