Old habits certainly die hard for New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart.

The 24-year-old Villanova product was back in Los Angeles on Sunday for the first game of the Pelicans’ back-to-back matches against the two LA-based teams at Staples Center.

Shortly after NOLA fell big to the Clippers, 134-119, Hart said he walked out of Staples and looked for his car — the same routine he used to do the past two seasons when he was still with the Lakers.

Picked 30th overall by the Utah Jazz before being traded to the Purple and Gold in the 2017 NBA Draft, Hart evolved into a serviceable role player in his first two seasons in LA.

Hart developed his wares in the 2018 Summer League for the South Bay Lakers, averaging 24.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game en route to being named tournament MVP. His improvements translated to the big leagues last season, becoming an integral part of LA's young core alongside Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball.

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However, the Lakers only won 35 games last season and opted to go another direction by trading for superstar Anthony Davis. Hart, along with Ball and Ingram, was shipped to NOLA in the offseason.

Hart, who is still recovering from an ankle sprain, missed his fourth straight game on Sunday. It remains unclear if he will be available against his former team on Thursday. The 24-year-old guard has been big for the Pels off the bench this year, tallying 12.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.