AGENTS OF CHANGE

Mates respect captain lance a lot

LANCE THOMAS doesn’t carry a ‘C’ on his jersey and doesn’t always get into the game, but he has enough respect to be voted by the Knicks as their leader.

A teammate revealed Wednesday that, prior to the season, players picked Thomas and Courtney Lee as their co-captains. It’s a role Thomas takes seriously.

“A lot of responsibility comes with it. You have to practice what you preach,” he said. “I have the guys’ respect because I do that. I tell guys the truth and I live in the uncomfortable. I’m not afraid to call a teammate out or push for them to be better. I’m not a guy who has a comfort zone. Some guys aren’t vocal, I’m all of those things and that’s something I take pride in with this team. And I’m honored.”

Thomas, 29, got his first start of the season in Wednesday’s 99-88 victory and lived up to his reputation. He only took two shots in 34 minutes — hitting both of them — but more importantly led a defense that held Memphis to 41 percent shooting. The 88 points represented the fewest allowed by the Knicks since their victory over Brooklyn on Oct. 27

“I want to give a lot of credit to Lance,” Enes Kanter said. “He just plays really hard, man ... I just love his energy and everything. He just gives us so much.”

Still, Thomas’ time in the starting lineup could be short lived. With Tim Hardaway Jr. out indefinitely, Jeff Hornacek said he may turn the lineup into a revolving door.

“Depending on the team we’re playing, maybe it’s more useful for a certain guy to be in the starting lineup,” Hornacek said. “Maybe we’re not set with a certain lineup.”

Very little will change with Porzingis’ representation after his primary agent, Andy Miller, relinquished his agent certification after he was targeted in an FBI investigation.

Porzingis will still be represented by his older brother, Janis, who remains with Miller’s agency, ASM.

With ASM, Porzingis signed with Adidas in the most lucrative sneaker deal for a European basketball player in history.