Whether Steve Kerr chooses the Knicks or Warriors as his first head-coaching job, the current TNT broadcaster will soon have to shed his ownership of the Suns.
The Post has learned Kerr still owns a tiny piece of the Suns — believed to be less than 1 percent — which he will have to divest. The NBA will grant him an allotted amount of time to sell his piece.
Phoenix owner Robert Sarver — like Kerr, a University of Arizona alum — confirmed Kerr still has financial interest in the Suns, whom Sarver bought for $401 million.
“We’re partners,’’ Sarver told The Post. “A modest partner. But he helped me originally buy the franchise [in 2004] and was the individual who introduced me to David Stern and the NBA and helped me negotiate the deal.’’
Kerr, the former Suns general manager, was expected to make his decision by either Thursday or Friday, when the favored Knicks likely are to present him with a formal contract offer. However, the Warriors, after firing Mark Jackson, expectedly entered the fray. Kerr is giving the Warriors some consideration because he is a longtime friend of Golden State owner Joe Lacob and team president Rick Welts.
Still, a source said Wednesday Kerr’s relationship with Phil Jackson is “special,’’ and it might be tough to move him away from the Knicks job. Former Arizona coach Lute Olson reiterated to The Post on Wednesday he feels Jackson’s the “trump card’’ that will lead Kerr to select the Knicks over Golden State. The Warriors’ interest is also a good negotiating chip for Kerr’s agent, former Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum.
Kerr was in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, broadcasting Game 2 of the Clippers-Thunder series, and it was unclear if he had met with the Warriors yet.
“I’ve known him for 20 years,’’ Lacob said Tuesday. “I think very highly of him as an individual — a great human being as well as a great basketball mind, I believe, and a great pedigree. Having said that, we haven’t spoken with him yet. We haven’t interviewed anybody and we’re going to take our time and we’re going to interview people. He might be one of them.’’
Sarver, who watched Kerr play at Arizona, said he is not surprised Kerr is ready to jump into coaching.
“He said he thought coaching was his real calling, even going back 10 years,’’ Sarver said. “He said one day he wanted to be an NBA coach.’’
Kerr and Sarver were part of the original ownership group in 2004. Kerr then was hired as Suns GM in 2007. Sarver said Kerr wasn’t ready to be a head coach yet because of family reasons, and Mike D’Antoni was having a lot of success as Suns coach at the time.
“[Kerr] wanted to be a coach but, wanted to wait until his kids were older,’’ Sarver said. “It wasn’t in the cards.’’
Sarver said he thinks Kerr will have as much success as his own first-year coach Jeff Hornacek, who placed third in the Coach of the Year voting.
“I think his biggest strength is he’s a really good communicator — both written and oral — and he gets himself very well prepared for what he’s doing,’’ Sarver said of Kerr. “Communication and preparation are two big traits in coaching.
“I can’t overstress the importance of communication and trust in any relationship. I always found Steve very trustworthy, who can do a great job communicating to you any situation. I think he’ll be able to forge that kind of relationship with his players.’
“[Hornacek] was an assistant for a few years. Experience helps but I also think what Steve liked about his job as a broadcaster is seeing so many games, players and interviewing so many coaches, he got the same insight as you experience as assistant coach.’’
Sarver declined to comment on which way Kerr is leaning, but indicated it could be difficult to leave Jackson at the altar.
“Steve always talked highly of Phil and viewed him as someone that gave him an opportunity, and was responsible for a big part of his success in the NBA,’’ Sarver said.