On Thursday night, the San Antonio Spurs completed their preseason by taking on the Oklahoma City Thunder at the AT&T Center. Despite coming up short 118-112, it was a solid way to end the season if not the best representation of their strengths on the defensive end. On offense, fans got a taste of what’s to come from top scorers Josh Primo, Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson. Despite their zeal on the court and 60 combined points, it wasn’t enough to stop OKC from leaving with another preseason win under their belt.
Falling to the Thunder didn’t bring the team down too hard. Johnson and Vassell had a lot of positive commentary after the game, especially about the point guard Primo.
Josh Primo’s Teammates Are Recognizing His Growth
“I’m just happy to see him aggressive,” Johnson said of Primo after the game. “I’m happy to see him playing well because I know that he puts in a lot of work. I can only do nothing but respect that. He works his but off so when you see success I feel like it’s deserved.”
Vassell built on that, noting his young teammate’s poise, stating, “Primo is a hell of a player. I think it’s his confidence. As long as we instill that confidence in him and let him be aggressive, it’s going to be a great season for him.”
Nobody knew just what to expect from the second-year point guard who was coming off a minor MCL injury. After a slow start to his preseason against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, Primo erupted for 23 points in 24 minutes of playing time against the Thunder.
Josh Primo Can Bring a Complete Offensive Package This Season
Primo’s shooting skills weren’t the only part of his game on display. What really had cheers erupting was his slick ball handling. The 19-year-old used careful dribbling, hand switches, and quick footwork to cut opponents. He would finish these sequences with a classic finger roll layup, or just attack the basket after making the defender dizzy trying to keep up with the rock in his grip.
The development of Primo’s confidence for the season will be a storm worth watching brew and it’s not too far away from making an impact. There are only three days left until the season opener against the Charlotte Hornets here in San Antonio, and he’s just getting started.
