#How Tom Thibodeau won over Scott Perry to become Knicks coach

Knicks GM Scott Perry didn’t know Tom Thibodeau. And he still hasn’t shaken hands with the new Knicks coach. Perry just knew what he saw on the court — Thibodeau’s well-coached clubs.

Perry became convinced over Zoom interviews that Thibodeau was the right man for the job, supporting president Leon Rose’s initial instinct that had the former Knicks assistant coach and former client the favorite across the seven-week hiring process.

Perry is still here — his contract extended in May for one more season. Perry’s presence was abundantly felt as he became part of Thibodeau’s introductory Zoom press conference Thursday. He’s now in Disney World, scouting the restart as the lone team executive permitted by the NBA as a live scout.

New hires, senior vice president William Wesley and vice president of strategy Brock Aller, also conducted the coaching search and have significant influence on Rose. Wesley and Aller weren’t on the Zoom press conference, but likely would have been included on a dais had it been a standard Garden press conference.

“I truly share in the enthusiasm today with the hiring,’’ Perry said during the press conference. “I’ve been in the league over 20 years. Even though I didn’t have a personal relationship with Tom, I felt like I knew him a little because we know a lot of the same people, have a lot of respect for the same people. It’s a very small industry.

“I knew this guy could coach basketball. During this process, it allowed me personally to get to know the man better and really see how our personalities could come together and mesh. I felt really good about our time talking basketball. He’s got a lot of the same values about the game that I was raised in that came through clear to me throughout the process.’’

The Zoom interviews probably hurt Perry the most in terms of getting a feel for Thibodeau as he must still work closely with the new Knicks coach. Rose has enjoyed a personal and professional relationship with Thibodeau for more than 10 years. So has Wesley, although sources say they haven’t been nearly as connected in recent years.

“I have watched teams that he has coached and a few things were abundantly clear to me — his teams compete and play hard every single night,’’ Perry said. “His teams defend, rebound and share the basketball and there’s an accountability present with all of his players and coaches. They play as a team. … I am personally excited and look forward to working closely with Tom and his staff as we look to make the Knicks a winning team again.’’

Perry and Steve Mills orchestrated the previous Knicks coaching search in 2018, which also featured an 11-man field. They picked David Fizdale, fired early in his second season last December.

Sources have told The Post owner James Dolan was heavily behind the decision and is now on the hook for all of Fizdale’s four-year, $22 million contract amid a COVID-19 economic crunch.

Sources also contend the Zoom interviews extended the search longer than if the interviews were conducted in person and included the wining and dining.

Asked about the limitations of Zoom interviews — the first coaching search conducted by this method in NBA history — Perry said, “This was an extremely thorough process, very informative one for us. While not being in person can present a few little challenges, overall it was really good. The coaches got a chance to dive in and show what they were all about and discuss their philosophies and allowed them to be engaged. I’m so happy at the end of this process we ended up with this quality head coach.’’

Mills was fired by Dolan in February because of the Kristaps Porzingis trade gone bad, but Perry survived.

Perry will run the draft, to be staged Oct. 16, and deserves heavy credit for tabbing RJ Barrett at No. 3 last June and plucking Mitchell Robinson in the second round at No. 36 in 2018. There was internal support to pass on Barrett and trade back for point guard Darius Garland, among others, to snare an extra pick.

The Robinson selection is so golden it partially makes up for Perry taking Kevin Knox at No. 9 over Mikal Bridges, Michael Porter Jr., Donovan Mitchell and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Perry has assembled seven first-round picks in the next four drafts with cap flexibility — all factors in Thibodeau’s decision to not wait for potential openings in Houston, Philly and Brooklyn.

While Thibodeau is the sensible candidate to rep the Knicks during lottery proceedings Aug. 20, make no mistake: This is still Perry’s draft.