Knicks news: Dennis Smith Jr. describes his two seasons with Mavs' Dirk Nowitzki 'amazing'

Knicks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. spent one-plus seasons with Dirk Nowitzki and has only fond things to say about the Mavs legend.

New York Knicks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. has only fond things to say about former teammate Dirk Nowitzki. The Dallas Mavericks lottery pick spent one-plus seasons with the Mavs legend in 41-year-old Nowitzki, who retired at the conclusion of the 2018-19 NBA season.

Smith Jr. was acquired by the Knicks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade in January earlier this year. Dallas sent Smith, veterans DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews along with two future first-round picks for Porzingis and salary filler in the likes of former ‘Bockers Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke.

Here's what Smith, 21, had to say about Dirk on a Mavs podcast (via 105.1 The Fan):

“It was amazing,” Smith said of his time with Dirk Nowitzki. “Knowing of his accolades and being able to practice with him every day, and I sat right behind him on the plane on every flight, so you just really get to witness greatness personified up close. You know, you just have to soak all of that in, because there are not too many chances you’re going to get to have an opportunity like that. So, to see a real franchise cornerstone, or the greatest player in the history of a franchise is a pretty awesome thing for me.”

The Mavs selected the NC State product Smith with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft—one spot after the Knicks took French guard Frank Ntilikina. Now, Smith and Ntilikina are teammates in New York, with the former's star rising and the latter looking like he's on the way out, with reports indicating general manager Scott Perry was looking to trade the Phil Jackson draft pick.

Smith was seemingly incompatible with reigning Rookie of the Year wing Luka Doncic, thus leading to Smith's inclusion in the deal for one-time All-Star Porzingis.