The Knicks are finalizing an agreement to make Chris Jent their associate head coach.
The news was first reported by The Post’s Stefan Bondy.
Jent — who grew up in New Jersey and played for the Knicks — returns to the Garden as the top assistant under newly hired head coach Mike Brown. He is leaving the Charlotte Hornets for what amounts to a reunion with Brown.
Jent, 55, had worked under Brown with Cleveland from 2006-10 and stayed on with the Cavaliers the following season after Brown’s departure. Now, Jent will work under him again, this time essentially as his offensive coordinator.
Indiana’s Mike Weinar had removed himself from consideration for that spot, according to SNY, opting instead to stay working with the NBA finalists under head coach Rick Carlisle.
That came after the Knicks failed to land assistants like Minnesota’s Pablo Prigioni, Dallas’ Jay Triano and New Orleans’ James Borrego.
Brown finally landed his man.
Jent grew up in Sparta and played briefly for the Knicks in 1996-97.
He also has been an assistant coach for 18 NBA seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers and Charlotte Hornets.
He was even the interim head coach for Orlando in 2004-05, going 5-13.
After Brown tabbed Brendan O’Connor as his top defensive mind, Jent will handle the other end of the court. He’ll flesh out a staff that includes assistants Darren Erman, Mark Bryant, Maurice Cheeks, Rick Brunson and Jordan Brink, all holdovers from the Tom Thibodeau regime.
