NBA

NO FAREWELL FOR WILLIAMS

Knicks assistant coach Herb Williams, a hard worker and intensely loyal, has become the ultimate “Survivor.” And he is expected to survive another head-coaching change and even be considered by Donnie Walsh as Isiah Thomas’ successor.

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Although Mark Jackson has emerged as a favorite to replace Thomas on the bench, Williams will be interviewed for the Knicks’ head-coaching vacancy – a job he had on an interim basis for the final 43 games of the 2004-05 season, posting a 16-27 (.372) record.

None of the other Knicks assistants are expected to be retained when Thomas is removed sometime after Wednesday’s season finale. Because of his classiness, Williams is a favorite of owner James Dolan; he also is a longtime associate of Walsh.

Williams was drafted by the Pacers in 1982 when Walsh was still an assistant coach. Williams played for Indiana from 1982-89 under Walsh’s regime.

Williams is walking on eggshells now and reluctant to discuss his relationship with Walsh.

“[Donnie’s] track record speaks for itself,” Williams told The Post. “What he did in Indiana, everybody knows the battles we had against Indiana when I was playing for the Knicks. He orchestrated that and put that team together.”

Williams was two days away from being named the Knicks’ permanent head coach in the summer of 2005 when Larry Brown stepped down from Detroit. Some in the organization wonder what might have been had Brown stayed in Detroit and Williams got his big chance.

“I’m not stepping on that one,” said Williams, who has been an assistant for Don Chaney, who hired him, Lenny Wilkens, Brown and Thomas.

During Brown’s press conference, Williams was saluted as Brown’s heir apparent. That didn’t happen. Dolan forced Thomas to the bench after Brown’s disastrous 23-59 record and firing.

Mark Aguirre and George Glymph, who Thomas added to Chaney’s staff, and Brown holdover Dave Hanners are not expected to be retained. Brendan Suhr doubles as a draft guy, so he could be retained, at least for this June’s NBA Draft.

If Williams is hired, he’ll need a strong top assistant, with Memphis’ Gordon Chiesa or Brendan Malone possibilities. Williams undoubtedly will bring in Patrick Ewing, who helped elevated Dwight Howard in Orlando, to work with Eddy Curry. Aguirre must take the fall for Curry’s regression.

Walsh is not bent on seeking an experienced coach, otherwise Rick Carlisle and Scott Skiles would be favorites. Carlisle is being pursued by Milwaukee. Skiles is at a terrible disadvantage because Curry and Jamal Crawford both dislike him – and the feeling is mutual. Former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy burned his bridges with Dolan by quitting on the team in midseason his last year at the Garden.

“I’ve done it both ways and it worked both ways,” Walsh said of hiring an experienced coach. “That’s part of what I want to look at, to be honest. There are a lot of young players on this team, but it’s not a whole team of young players.”

If Jackson is the man, he could retain Williams and bring in Ewing, but would also need an elite veteran top assistant in the Dick Harter mold.

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Knicks fans have earned their free food – and they’ll get it tomorrow in the home finale against the Celtics, when special vendors will be handing out free hot dogs, pretzels, soda and bottled water.

The Knicks will post their 21st sell-out, bringing their final home attendance average to 19,116 – an extraordinarily large number for a disgraceful 23-57 team. The Knicks, who will finish ninth in the league in attendance, sold out eight of their last 10 games.

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Thomas has taken umbrage with the early-season boos, but even he is stunned by the inexplicable support in the arena. Friday night during the Knicks’ fourth-quarter comeback against the Hawks, it was deafening.

“We have been appreciative of how well they have treated us this year,” Thomas said. “This has been a difficult year. Our fans continue to come out and support, cheer and inspire. We are extremely lucky to have them.”

marc.berman@nypost.com