NBA star Josh Primo sued for alleged ‘indecent exposure’ as Spurs accused of coverup | NBA | Sport
NBA star Joshua Primo has been sued by a former San Antonio Spurs doctor over an alleged indecent exposure. Primo was released by the Spurs last week.
Hillary Cauthen, a former psychologist for the Spurs, has alleged Primo exposed himself to her nine times – starting in December 2021. She also alleges the Spurs failed to act on her complaints. Speaking on Thursday, Cauthen said: “I am disheartened to be standing here sharing this. I am a victim.”
The lawsuit, obtained by ESPN, claims the Spurs ignored Cauthen’s complaints, and that the organisation instead chose to back Primo due to his promising NBA career.
The statement alleges: “Rather than act on Dr. Cauthen’s reports, the Spurs ignored her complaints, hoping the organization could ignore and then cover up Primo’s actions. The Spurs organization was willing to sacrifice Dr. Cauthen to keep what they hoped would one day be a star player.
“Once Primo’s conduct entered the public sphere, the Spurs were forced to act and release Primo. The Spurs’ recent actions with regard to Primo are too little, too late.
“The Spurs’ public statement about Primo’s departure is a complete farce. The Spurs’ conduct sends a strong message that they, like other major sports organizations, are willing to tolerate abhorrent conduct on the part of athletes and sacrifice loyal employees, so long as the athlete is successful on the court.” Primo’s attorney, William J. Briggs, denied the allegations in a statement released shortly after.
The statement read: “In an act of betrayal against her young client, Dr. Cauthen, who is 40 years old, falsely claims Josh Primo exposed himself to her during the course of her numerous therapy sessions. Dr. Cauthen’s allegations are either a complete fabrication, a gross embellishment or utter fantasy. Josh Primo never intentionally exposed himself to her or anyone else and was not even aware that his private parts were visible outside of his workout shorts.
“What makes the allegations even less credible is that Dr. Cauthen never informed her patient of the purported exposure. Dr. Cauthen was Mr. Primo’s mental health support provider and confidant; a therapist who Mr. Primo trusted. She is much older than Mr. Primo, with many years of experience as a sports psychologist. It is baffling why she did not bother to tell her patient that his private parts were visible underneath his shorts.”
