NBA

Ex-Knicks guard felled by cancer

TORONTO — The Knicks drafted Ray Williams with the 10th pick in the 1977 draft as Walt Frazier’s successor.

As terrific a talent Williams was, it never worked out that way. Frazier, now an MSG Network analyst, regrets never having a chance to tutor the Mount Vernon product and make him into a perennial All-Star.

Williams, the Knicks point guard in the late 1970s and 1980s, died yesterday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan after battling colon cancer. He was 58.

Williams never quite lived up to his superstar potential and his life fell into disarray. He became unemployed, bankrupt and homeless in 2010.

Williams’ luck turned when he was brought back to his hometown and worked for Mount Vernon’s Recreation Department. Before becoming ill, he made appearances for the Knicks, who helped pay his hospital bills.

Knicks coach Mike Woodson, Williams’ teammate with the Knicks and Kansas City Kings, and assistant coach and former Knick Darrell Walker visited Williams in the hospital three weeks ago. Woodson called Williams’ death “a major loss.’’

Williams and the oft-troubled Micheal Ray Richardson will always be linked as the Knicks young backcourt pairing that never lived up to their hype and talent. Ironically, Richardson, who coaches a minor league team in Toronto, visited the Knicks locker room before last night’s game.

Williams filed for bankruptcy in 1994 and fell victim to a real-estate scam.

“[Williams] wasn’t really ready,’’ Frazier told The Post last night. “He needed more tutoring. I was thinking about it today, how different my life would’ve been if [then general manager] Willis Reed had come to me at that point and said: ‘Groom these guys.’ I would’ve been receptive to that. I knew my career was phasing out. Willis traded me instead.’’

Frazier and Williams made an appearance together for the Knicks last year in Queens.

“He was unbridled,’’ Frazier said. “I could’ve showed him a little more poise and composure. … When they told me today, I had the flashback.

“He was the guy who was supposed to replace me and that’s why they traded me [to Cleveland]. Maybe it would’ve been different for him if I stayed around.’’

Woodson played with Williams for one season with the Knicks and two in Kansas City.

“I was a very good friends with him,’’ Woodson said. “I sent my condolences to his family, spoke to his wife. He was part of the Knick family. Our organization has been fantastic through this. I tip my hat to the Knicks. They stood in Ray’s corner. He’ll be missed. He was well-liked.’’

Woodson remembered Williams as a gritty guard. Williams played five seasons for the Knicks, the first stint from 1977-81, and the second during the 1983-84 season. He averaged 16.4 points in New York.

Williams averaged 15.5 points, 5.8 assists and 1.8 steals during his 12-year career. He also played for the Nets, Spurs, Celtics and Hawks.

“He was awesome,’’ Woodson told The Post. “Physical. Tough. Knew how to play. He was a prototype combo guard because he could play [the] one, he could play [the] two and could guard the three because he was so physical. To see him in the hospital like that you don’t wish that on anyone. That’s why we should be fortunate we can walk around and laugh.

“We talked about fond memories. We have a lot of fond memories. We laughed about a lot of things. It was kind of nice.’’