Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs has spoken out for the first time about the indecent exposure allegations against Josh Primo.
The NBA coach was silent on the matter until Friday night, before his team’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
He said he could not comment on when he was first told about Primo’s alleged behavior and what actions the Spurs, who lost 113-106, did or did not take because it is now a legal matter.
He added that the Spurs have long worked to maintain a healthy work environment.
“I would just add that anyone who has watched the Spurs for a very long period of time knows that an accusation like this would be taken very seriously, without question,” Popovich said.
‘Certainly the Spurs organization would be aware. I am absolutely certain that the men and women of senior management who dealt with and are dealing with this did so resolutely, efficiently, quickly and with the utmost care for everyone involved, the accuser, the accused, the people in the organization. . , to make sure everyone felt comfortable and safe. I’ll leave my comments on that.’
Gregg Popovich (right) of the San Antonio Spurs has spoken out for the first time about the indecent exposure allegations against Josh Primo (left).
Lawyers working on behalf of psychologist Hillary Cauthen (left, Thursday and right) filed the lawsuit on her behalf in Bexar County, Texas, on Thursday.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in Texas said Friday that it has begun a preliminary investigation into the allegations.
San Antonio’s KSAT quoted a spokesperson confirming that investigators have contacted an alleged victim who was not identified by the BCSO office.
It comes a day after psychologist Hillary Cauthen’s lawyers filed a lawsuit on her behalf in Bexar County, Texas.
Cauthen claims that Primo exposed himself to her nine times during private sessions starting in December 2021. She also referenced in her lawsuit other women who reportedly accused the Toronto native of exposure.
Primo, 19, was released by the San Antonio Spurs last Friday after the allegations surfaced publicly.
Popovich has been an outspoken advocate for civil rights and various social causes. The claim that Spurs turned a blind eye to Cauthen’s accusations has worried the team’s fans.
Primo, 19, was released by the San Antonio Spurs last Friday after the allegations surfaced publicly.
“The one thing I would say to the fans is to consider the statement I just made about how we’ve handled things for many years,” Popovich said.
“As for the details, I think they know intellectually, like everyone else, that it is in the hands of the lawyers. We can’t say anything. That pretty much cuts everything. I imagine that with time details will come out, they always come out. Everyone has to wait for that.
“The Spurs organization was willing to sacrifice Dr. Cauthen to keep what they hoped would one day be a star player,” the suit, provided to DailyMail.com, said. “Once Primo’s conduct entered the public sphere, the Spurs were forced to act and release Primo. The Spurs’ recent actions regarding Primo are too little, too late.
The psychologist was hired by the Spurs in 2021, but her employment relationship with the team ended when her contract was not renewed in August 2022.
Cauthen’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, said at a news conference Thursday that he plans to file a criminal complaint against Primo.
At Thursday’s news conference, Buzbee cited Spurs general manager Brian Wright, as well as the team’s general counsel, deputy general counsel and chief human relations officer for failing to respond to Cauthen’s complaints about Primo.
Cauthen says he was told in June that Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich was aware of the allegations, but Buzbee expressed some doubt that Thursday.
‘We may have concluded here that they [the Spurs] they were lying,” Buzbee said.
Primo’s attorney, William J. Briggs, has issued a statement defending the former Spurs player. Specifically, Briggs claimed that his client was never exposed to her and instead simply had a wardrobe malfunction.
