Beno Udrih already got a taste of New York, attending last night’s U.S. Open quarterfinals. Now he wants a taste of a championship in the Big Apple.
Udrih, the Knicks 31-year-old backup point guard who signed as a free agent last month, won two titles with the Spurs. Now he wants his new teammates thinking title from Day 1 of training camp, which begins Sept. 30.
“I believe our team can go as far as going to the Finals,’’ Udrih told The Post at Ashe Stadium in his first remarks since signing. “We have to think like that from the first practice. We can be very good. It all depends how seriously we’re going to take it.
“We all believe we can go really far. And our goal from the beginning has to be win it all because we know we’re going to be in the playoffs. Our mentality from the first practice has to be: we want to win a championship.’’
The Slovenian point guard got paid $7 million last season, but he had to ply his trade in Milwaukee and Orlando. Nevertheless, it was a surprise the Knicks got him for the $1.4 million veteran’s minimum.
“I just want to be on a winning team,’’ Udrih said. “The last couple of years I was with teams rebuilding. I was trying to bring them a winning mentality and it didn’t happen. Now I’m actually on a team where I can play basketball and help a team win instead of teaching young guys how to win.’’
San Antonio, tried to get him back, Udrih said. Memphis was also in the mix and two European teams. “I’ve been there,‘’ Udrih said of nixing the Spurs. “I know their mentality. Tony Parker’s their guard. Been there, done that. I’ve always wanted to play for the Knicks. It’s something special. ‘’
Udrih, who sat with his wife, already has a place in Manhattan. He has been working out at the Tarrytown practice facility with a handful of guys — Tyson Chandler, Iman Shumpert, Amar’e Stoudemire, Jeremy Tyler and Chris Smith, who has been invited to camp.
Udrih said he wants to be one of the leaders as coach Mike Woodson wants to use him in a three-point-guard-platoon with Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni.
“I know what it means how to win,’’ Udrih said. “Last year’s team got a taste of winning and had bad luck vs. Indiana [in the second round]. Tyson got sick — a lot of injury problems. We have to stay healthy all year and it’s good we have a deep team. Some guys can get time off and still get a win.’’