NBA

Isiah: LeBron should come to Knicks

Former Knicks president and coach Isiah Thomas had a nightmare stint in New York, but he still would recommend to LeBron James to accept the daunting challenge of being the Knicks’ savior.

Thomas, head coach of Florida International, told Sid Rosenberg on Miami radio yesterday that James should welcome the task of performing where the microscope is sharpest and passion is greatest.

“Yeah, I would, because the fans show up every single night,” Thomas said. “They may boo, but they are there. The media is definitely tough on you. But there is no more passionate fans. That passion can be stirred to love you to death or to hate you.

“As an athlete, a competitor — at least me — you want to be in that arena. I want to feel that sweat, I want to feel that intensity. I want to feel that emotion. That’s what I thrive on.”

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While Thomas was sharing his two cents about the superstar free agent’s destination, another college coach was being linked to James.

A Chicago Tribune report yesterday stated that one of James’ advisors, William Wesley, approached the Bulls, saying that if the team hires Kentucky coach John Calipari, James might follow. Through Wesley, James has become friends with Calipari, who bombed with the Nets in his lone NBA coaching stint and is considered by most NBA general managers a college coach.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh has no interest in Calipari. Feeling Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, who has two years and $12 million left on his pact, is the right guy to recruit superstars such as James, Walsh told The Post Sunday, “He’s a big plus.”

Before the 2008 Olympics, when James and the new Knicks coach were in Manhattan with Team USA on a promotional appearance, James offered glowing praise for D’Antoni.

“It’s been great working with him,” he said. “He’s one of the best coaches we have in the league. He’s an offensive mastermind. If you like to score the basketball, he can make decent players a lot better because of his scheme. He’s unbelievable on the offensive end.”

However, during the regular season, after a 124-93 victory over the Knicks on March 1, James replied cryptically when asked if he could play for a team that does not stress defense.

“I’ve yet to play for a team that doesn’t like defense in my career,” James said.

marc.berman@nypost.com