Despite being traded to the New York Knicks, former Dallas Mavericks lottery pick Dennis Smith Jr. is still friends with his ex-teammates.

Speaking on a Mavs-related podcast, here's what Smith Jr. said (via 105.3 The Fan):

“In Madison Square Garden I don’t think there is anything I would love more than that,” Smith said of the thought of playing against his former team. “To be honest, I really don’t think there is anything I would love more than that.

“I’m still good friends with everybody on that team, like I just did (Dorian Finney-Smith’s) camp, Luka calls me every other week, I just did the baseball game with (Devin Harris) and Dirk, you know all the older guys, I’m still friends with everybody on that team. But, you know I love to compete, so any chance I get to bust that ass, you know I’m good for it.”

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The Knicks traded for Smith, 21, along with veterans center DeAndre Jordan, shooting guard Wesley Matthews, and two first-round picks in the deal with the Mavs for one-time All-Star power forward Kristaps Porzingis (also sending Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee, and Trey Burke).

The Mavs selected the springy floor general Smith out of NC State in 2018 with the ninth overall pick in the draft—one spot after the Knicks took so-far underachieving French guard Frank Ntilikina at No. 8.

In the NBA, it's not uncommon for former teammates to still remain friends after parting and changing teams, as we've often seen All-Stars and role players alike form strong bonds along the hoops fans' boundaries between dreaded rivals.