Primo remains ticketed for Austin duty
A solid run as an emergency starter has not changed rookie guard Josh Primo’s destination once the Spurs’ COVID-19 outbreak clears.
“He will go to the G League,” coach Gregg Popovich said.
With the Spurs missing six players due to NBA health and safety protocols, Primo — at age 19 years and 14 days — last week became the youngest starter in club history in a game at Brooklyn.
In three games as a starter heading into Wednesday’s home contest against Houston, Primo averaged 10.7 points in 31 minutes per game, despite shooting 37.5 percent.
As veteran players begin to trickle back from the COVID list, Primo — the 12th overall pick in last year’s draft — is still on track to eventually return to the Spurs’ G League affiliate in Austin.
“He’s going to be a hell of a player,” Popovich said, “but he needs that time to create habits and get a lot playing time, get a lot of minutes.”
Before the coronavirus began its rampage through the Spurs’ roster earlier this month, Primo appeared in 11 games with Austin, averaging 17 points.
The Spurs used the G League opportunity to play Primo primarily on the ball, as evidenced by his team-high 4.8 assists per game in Austin.
Asked if he is beginning to see progress as the NBA’S youngest player, Primo said, “I think I am starting to.”
“There are a lot of things I can improve on and there are a lot of things I am starting to get,” said Primo, a one-year college standout at Alabama. “I just keep trying to learn from each mistake
and each good thing I do out there on the court.”
Primo said he has not been surprised, for good or ill, with how his rookie season has gone so far.
“You can never completely anticipate what is going to happen in an NBA season,” Primo said. “That’s kind of what the coaches and teammates have
tried to preach to me, but I think I am progressing pretty well.”
Young active after clearing protocols
Veteran forward Thad Young became the latest player to emerge from health and safety protocols, as he was active against Houston.
Young, 33, entered protocols Jan. 6, along with Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Derrick White.
Those three players remained in protocols Wednesday, along with Doug Mcdermott and Tre Jones.
Before going on the COVID list, Young had appeared only once in the Spurs’ previous 10 games, logging 12 minutes in a Dec. 31 loss at Memphis.
Morris sees 10-day contract not renewed
With the Spurs’ COVID situation expected to break soon, the club did not renew the 10-day contract of reserve Jaylen Morris after it expired Tuesday.
Morris, 26, was called up from the G League on Jan. 1 and signed under the league’s hardship exemption.
He appeared in three games, averaging 5.3 minutes.
Green’s decision wave of the future?
Houston’s Jalen Green, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, chose a different path to the NBA.
Instead of playing a year of college after finishing high school in California, Green spent a season playing in the G League last year to become draft eligible.
Spurs guard Lonnie Walker views Green’s decision to join the G League as the start of a potential trend among elite prospects.
“If you have the ability and talent to do it, I don’t see why not,” Walker said.
Green’s decision to forgo college reminded Walker of something Orlando’s R.J. Hampton said after opting to spend a gap year playing professionally in Australia before becoming a first-round pick in 2020.
“He said, ‘I didn’t dream about going to college. I dreamed about playing in the NBA,’ ” Walker said. “A lot of these players, that’s what they dreamed of doing.”