NBA

Knicks’ Camby says he’s here to help Anthony get a ring

Marcus Camby, who spurned South Beach for Manhattan over the summer, revealed yesterday one factor in his decision was his desire to help Carmelo Anthony win an NBA championship ring.

Camby, who missed all six preseason games with a calf strain, could make the first appearance of his second stint with the Knicks tonight when the Heat visit in the season opener. He will dress and Mike Woodson will determine if he is needed.

In the past, Camby had talked about assistant general manager Allan Houston, his former Knicks teammate, telling him it would be wrong to wear the Heat jersey after what he’s been through as a member of the Knicks. But Camby said yesterday joining his former Denver teammates Melo and J.R. Smith was a big factor.

“Being reunited with Carmelo and J.R. was icing on the cake,’’ Camby said. “Those guys are my brothers. I played five years with those guys in Denver and I wanted to come here and help Melo get a championship. I know that him seeing all those guys from that [2003] draft class, he might not say it, but those guys getting a ring, and I know he wants one. … He got one in college and deserves one in the NBA. That was added motivation for me coming to New York.’’

It hasn’t gone well so far due to his preseason injury, but Camby, 38, has plenty of time to be the defensive big man behind Tyson Chandler that can separate the Knicks from the undersized Heat.

“When I put on the uniform, it will bring back all the good memories and great times I had here as a player,’’ said Camby, out of Hartford and UMass. “There isn’t a day that goes by I don’t think about the run we had in 1999 [to the Finals].’’

Camby has been through the Knicks-Heat wars. He was part of the celebration in Miami in 1999 when Houston hit the game-winning, buzzer-beating shot off the glass that knocked the Heat out of the playoffs — one of Heat coach Pat Riley’s most agonizing moments.

Perhaps one reason Knicks GM Glen Grunwald wanted Camby so badly was to keep him away from the Heat, who have a lot of things but not a true NBA center.

“I was going on the plane to Miami when Allan, Glen and Woody came down to Houston,’’ Camby said. “That’s how close I was. I had a good talk with Coach Riley on the phone. We talked for an extended period about them wanting me to come down there … In hindsight, I felt I was always a Knick at heart.’’

Camby said Riley regrouped well, adding Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis as key bench pieces. But the former Knicks coach and president can’t be thrilled with the snub. Just another ingredient added to this spicy rivalry.

“Historically, the Knicks-Miami series has been physically tough,’’ Camby said. “We’re not going out there trying to hurt anybody. Definitely not trying to get fined by the commish. We’ll try to keep it clean.’’

Camby hasn’t scrimmaged, but has been cleared to play. It’s possible he only gets action if the Knicks are in foul trouble, Rasheed Wallace is awful or they need a rim protector.

“I’ll be available,’’ Camby said. “All depends on if coach wants to play me since I haven’t been out there. I still have six fouls to use.’’