Controversial guard Joshua Primo lands with new NBA team

Mar 7, 2022; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Joshua Primo (11) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Joshua Primo is getting another go at it in the NBA.

Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reported Thursday that the Chicago Bulls are signing the controversial guard Primo on an Exhibit 10 contract. He is expected to join the Windy City Bulls (Chicago’s G League affiliate) as he rehabs an injury and works towards an NBA return, Mayberry adds.

Primo, still only 21 years old, was the No. 12 overall pick by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2021 NBA Draft. But he became an infamous figure after being accused of exposing himself to women, including an ex-Spurs psychologist, during his time with the team. The psychologist would later file a lawsuit against both Primo and the Spurs (accusing the Spurs of failing to act in a timely manner), but the suit would eventually be settled.

The NBA opened its own investigation into the allegations against Primo and ended up giving him a fairly brief suspension after determining that he had indeed exposed himself to women (though had not otherwise engaged in any sexual misconduct). Local prosecutors also declined to file criminal charges against Primo, citing a lack of evidence.

Primo, who was waived by the Spurs shortly after the scandal first broke, spent last season with the LA Clippers, signing on a two-way deal that was eventually converted to a standard contract. He only appeared in two total games for the Clippers though but did make 30 appearances last season in the G League (averaging 16.7 points per game). Primo would eventually be waived by the Clippers in April before the playoffs.

As for the Bulls, they already seem like they are plenty loaded in the backcourt with multi-time All-Star Zach LaVine, Most Improved Player finalist Coby White, and former All-Rookie selection Ayo Dosunmu still around. Josh Giddey also arrived in a summer trade, and Lonzo Ball may finally (hopefully) be returning from injury as well. But clearly the Bulls still see enough upside in the 6-foot-4 Primo to take a swing on him.