NBA

Woodson: No doubt Knicks’ Chandler an All-Star

As Tyson Chandler continues to anchor their defense, keep balls alive on offense and rock the rim with alley-oop dunks, Knicks coach Mike Woodson sees in his center’s future a first All-Star berth in February and a second straight Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Chandler has been that good.

“He means all the right things for your team in trying to win,’’ Woodson said. “Without a doubt [he’s an All-Star] and a Defensive Player of the Year Award again. He’s right there. He’s doing everything he did last year and more.’’

In his second season as a Knick, Chandler has come back with the same defensive vigor but has become more lethal offensively — just as he promised in the locker room that April night in Miami after the Knicks were eliminated by the Heat.

Chandler is averaging a double-double for the first time in his career — a career-high 13 points and 10 rebounds, shooting an astounding 70.3 percent. The last player to shoot over 70 percent in a season was someone named Wilt Chamberlain (72 percent, 1972-73).

Tonight, the Knicks (19-6) play host to the Bulls, the team that drafted Chandler No. 2 in the 2001 draft. Chandler has an NBA championship, an Olympic gold medal and a $56 million contract but no All-Star credentials.

“Sometimes it’s being in the wrong conference at the wrong time,’’ said Jason Kidd, who played with Chandler on Dallas’ 2011 title team. “That’s all.”

Chandler has never averaged more than 11.8 points in a season. Last April, Chandler gave a sermon in a quiet visitor’s locker room in Miami, vowing to return as more of “an offensive threat.’’ Bingo.

His work with point guard Raymond Felton on the pick-and-roll would have shattered glass backboards in the old days, and that alley-oop connection has allowed the Knicks to not skip a beat in Amar’e Stoudemire’s protracted absence.

“I felt like we had to have more if I want to get my team over the hump,’’ said Chandler, who pounded through several violent dunks against the Nets in Wednesday’s 16-point gem. “I want to accomplish things I said I wanted to accomplish the day I signed here. So I got to be the best player I can be. I took that personally and seriously, being knocked out like that. It’s my only mission.’’

The center position was eliminated from All-Star ballots this season — replaced by a homogenous “frontcourt players.’’ Chandler placed fifth in the last voting — behind quasi-centers Chris Bosh and Kevin Garnett. He will need the coaches’ vote and this time he finally should get it.

Asked in recent days about his All-Star candidacy, Chandler told The Post, “I hope so. I’m definitely playing up to par. It’s left up to fans who vote. That’s far in the future. Every player wants to be recognized and have those accolades, but I’m more concerned with winning.’’

With the 19-6 Knicks owning the best record in the East, the coaches would be remiss to overlook Chandler again.

“Just the way we’re playing offensively the ball is flowing and he’s been great.’’ Woodson said of Chandler’s offensive panache. “The thing about his conditioning — to be able to rebound, block shots, defend and then run pick-and-roll basketball, you’re asking a big guy to do a lot. And he’s doing it because he knows he’s being rewarded for it.’’

Points, though, aren’t what teammates cherish about Chandler. His ability to bat out missed offensive shots to the perimeter for his mates is among his most selfless traits. There isn’t a stat for it — even in the new world of basketball analytics. In the second game against the Nets in Brooklyn, Chandler batted out a missed shot that led to Jason Kidd’s game-winning 3-pointer. He was at it again Wednesday against the Nets, with three more possession saves.

“That’s a play back in the day wasn’t around,’’ Woodson said. “You just had to rebound the ball. Guys didn’t think about doing it that way. Now they’re calling over the back, Tyson is using it to your advantage. We’re benefitting from it.’’

As Chandler spoke yesterday, Stoudemire, a pick-and-roll monster in his prime, emerged from the locker room after his latest scrimmage. Reporters moved away from Chandler to hear from Stoudemire. It was symbolic because the $100 million question is whether Stoudemire’s presence will set back Chandler’s growth on the offensive end.