Gregg Popovich defends Spurs’ conduct over Primo allegations

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich vigorously defended the franchise’s handling of complaints from a former team psychologist that guard Josh Primo exposed himself to her nine times during private counseling sessions. “Anybody that has observed the Spurs over a very long period of time knows that an accusation like this would be taken very seriously without any doubt whatsoever,” Popovich said Friday in his most direct response yet to the explosive allegations against Primo. “No equivocation, the Spurs organization would be on top of it.”

The 73-year-old coach and president of the club’s basketball operations added that he is “absolutely confident the men and women on the managerial staff that dealt and are dealing with” the matter have done so “purposefully, efficiently, promptly” and with “the utmost care for everybody concerned — the accuser, the accused, the people in the organization — to make sure that everybody felt comfortable and safe.” Hillary Cauthen, a consulting sports psychologist for the Spurs, went public with her allegations against Primo on Thursday, holding a news conference at her attorney’s office in Houston after filing a civil lawsuit against the player and the team. Cauthen contends that Primo, 19, exposed his genitals to her during one-on-one sessions, and that despite her complaints to Spurs executives, including general manager Brian Wright, the organization took no action against Primo.