Cuban talks smack: 'They're still the Clippers'

Thursday's nightcap of the TNT doubleheader is a real early-season treat, with the Dallas Mavericks visiting the Los Angeles Clippers.

Few NBA fans will need a refresher of this summer's DeAndre Jordan sweepstakes between the two clubs - and the surreal, emoji-fueled shenanigans that followed - but Mavs owner Mark Cuban is rarely a guy not to want to talk about things.

Naturally, prior to the game, Cuban was asked about the Clippers, and whether he holds a grudge about the way the organization snatched Jordan back from what he thought was a deal with the prized free-agent center.

"They're still the Clippers," Cuban told reporters, before further expanding on that theme.

Cuban continued: "You can change the owner, you can change the players but the Clippers are who they've been for the past 30 years. I don't give a shit about the Clippers."

Cuban also added that he hasn't talked to Jordan since the center chose to return to Los Angeles, and doesn't expect to. "I haven't said a word to him," he said. "I haven't heard a word from him. There's no reason to."

From Jordan's perspective, the atmosphere figures to be a lot tougher for him when the Clippers visit the Mavericks in Dallas on Nov. 11.

It's worth noting that there are some things in life far more important, and far above rancor between the two teams. Cuban will fly Clippers coach Doc Rivers, among others, in his private jet to Flip Saunders' funeral in Minnesota this weekend, according to ESPN's Tim MacMahon.