NBA

Frazier’s wary of Knicks’ new duo

Just because New York is the world’s biggest stage doesn’t mean it’s always big enough.

It was big enough 30-plus years ago for Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe, and the Knicks hope it will be again for Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. But as Clyde cautioned last night, hoping and knowing are two vastly different things.

Hours before Anthony made his Knicks debut at the Garden, Frazier and Monroe acknowledged their partnership worked because the latter made sacrifices when Monroe arrived from Baltimore in November of 1971, and said Anthony will have to do the same.

“They weren’t even giving [our partnership] a chance, whereas with these guys no one is doubting they can play together, which is an x-factor. We don’t really know that,” Frazier said last night before the Knicks’ 114-108 win over the Bucks.

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“I think we’re assuming this is going to be a smooth transition for both of these guys, and we’re going to live happily ever after.”

Frazier and Monroe shared a fairy-tale title in 1973 because Monroe subjugated his game. In his 328 regular-season games with Baltimore, the Pearl averaged 23.7 ppg and 20.1 shots, but just 13.8 and 12.1 in New York.

Anthony shouldn’t and won’t have such a drastic dip, but will have to acquiesce somewhat on Stoudemire’s team.

“Yeah, I think it’s crucial that he does that, take a step back. Amar’e has been here and rejuvenated the franchise and [Anthony is] coming in just to be a part of it, keep it going. That would smooth things a lot with the players here, ease a lot of tensions,” said Frazier, who praised Monroe for doing just that.

“On my way from Baltimore, I stopped at home in Philadelphia and talked about it with some friends, and just realized, all the things I thought I was going to be able to accomplish as an individual player, that wasn’t going to happen,” Monroe said. “I had to come here with the idea I had to fit in and wait my turn. That’s what I did.

“I see a lot of parallels. He can shoot really well, he’s from Baltimore, he wore No. 15. All those things make it a pretty good parallel.”

Except that Frazier and Monroe both were selfless ball-movers, while Stoudemire and Anthony have had reputations as middling defenders who are combining for just 5.5 assists between them.

“Between these guys we’ve got to hope they can get five assists,” Frazier said. “There’s not a lot of swishing and dishing here. That’s going to be crucial. The epitome of a superstar is how he raises the level of play of the guys around him. Melo had 50 points and no assists; that’s hard to do.”

And Anthony’s Nuggets lost that Feb. 7 game 108-103 against Houston, to prove Frazier’s point. He did praise Stoudemire’s improved passing and defense, and hoped they will rub off on Anthony. But he said late-game shots could be an issue, and acknowledged the reports that Stoudemire left Phoenix to have a team of his own. How will Anthony’s arrival impact that?

“That’s ironic because they were saying that’s why he left Phoenix and [Steve] Nash, and now he’s come here and it’s Melo,” Frazier said. “But these guys should just want to win. Amar’e has been paid already; he got his 100 million, Melo’s got his money. They’re already paid, and if they win they’re going to get notoriety.”

brian.lewis@nypost.com