FOR KNICKS,

Kristaps tells News he’s ready for new start

Kristaps Porzingis has volunteered to care for Carmelo Anthony’s Rolls Royce should Anthony decide not to bring his luxury automobile to Oklahoma City. As for the franchise Carmelo is leaving behind, Porzingis is confident that the Knicks are in good hands as well.

“I am ready for the challenge,” Porzingis told the Daily News in his first interview since returning to the United States on Saturday. “I’ve been preparing myself for this moment.”

The moment arrives Monday when the post-Carmelo Knicks report to work following yet another chaotic summer for an organization that has just one playoff series victory in 17 years. In the weeks and months since Porzingis skipped his exit meeting with team officials in late April, the Knicks made several significant moves directly linked to Porzingis.

In May, the club informed Porzingis’ favorite coach, Josh Longstaff, that his contract would not be renewed. Six weeks later, Phil Jackson, who drafted Porzingis, was fired. And following weeks of speculation and trade talks, Anthony was dealt to Oklahoma City on Saturday just as Porzingis was returning to New York after having spent the entire offseason in Latvia.

There is also the matter of reports, including several from the Daily News, that Porzingis’ relationship with Jeff Hornacek is on thin ice. Porzingis, who spoke to The News after he was spotted at a midtown eatery Sunday afternoon, declined to address the circumstances behind blowing off his end of the season meeting with Jackson, Hornacek and Steve Mills. The 22-yearold forward would only say, “Honestly, I would love for this year to be a new start. All I’m looking for is a fresh start and not to talk about that anymore.”

Porzingis, however, does stand by his decision to return to Latvia and work out on his own.

“It was important that I disconnected from everything,” he added. “I was working on my game and resting my mind. I kept working hard this summer to put myself in this position. I’m coming in with a fresh mind. I don’t want to carry anything from the previous season.”

The relationship between Hornacek and Porzingis frayed last season, according to team sources. Last month, there was a report that alleged Hornacek called Porzingis a derogatory word for “soft” during a conversation with Knicks forward Willy Hernangomez, who is also Porzingis’ best friend on the team. Porzingis refused to address the report and would only say that his relationship with the head coach is “great.”

For years, European-born players have been fighting the stereotype that they are “soft.” Porzingis prides himself on being mentally and physically tough and knows he can’t back down from anyone. That was evident by his near-altercation with former Knick Anthony Randolph during Latvia’s semifinal loss to Slovenia in EuroBasketall. Porzingis felt that Randolph, who was pulling Porzingis’ arm, was intentionally trying to hurt him, and so Porzingis retaliated.

“It’s not worth talking about that guy,” Porzingis said. “In every situation, I’m going to stand up for myself.”

There is a feeling that the Knicks retaliated for Porzingis skipping his exit meeting by not renewing the contract of Longstaff, who had grown close to the Knicks’ 7-foot-3 forward to the point where Porzingis was lobbying for Longstaff to work with the Latvian national team. Porzingis clearly isn’t happy