#Inside look at what makes Knicks’ World Wide Wes’ a polarizing figure

Last week’s Knicks press release quoted new executive VP William Wesley on his “long history with and respect for Jim Dolan.’’

Sources confirm Wesley has been in the Knicks owner’s ear for 15 years, working behind the scenes. As is his custom.

A Knicks coach from the Glen Grunwald era verified the influence of “World Wide Wes.”

“When we were there, I was told he listened to ‘World Wide Wes’ more than he did Grunwald,” the coach told The Post.

Indeed, Wesley has been free with advice for Dolan, but not all of it constructive.

The Post has learned Wesley was a driving force behind Dolan moving on from Grunwald after a 54-28 season four days before the 2013 training camp. Wesley recommended bringing back Steve Mills, citing stronger connections.

At the time, The Post reported Grunwald’s firing as linked to 2015 free-agent aspirations. In addition, the new chief needed to prepare for a bid to keep Carmelo Anthony in the ensuing summer of 2014.

Anthony was represented by Creative Artists Agency, and Mills was reputed to have close ties to CAA. (Wesley, according to a source, served as a chief confidant of Anthony’s during his Knicks stint.)

Now CAA is officially running the Knicks with the Leon Rose-Wesley tandem. After Rose agreed to terms in February, The Post quoted a source, stating, “MSG and CAA have been in bed for years. This shouldn’t be surprising.’’

Wesley’s push to remove Grunwald didn’t work out. The Knicks have missed the playoffs seven straight seasons since his ouster, though Dolan deviated six months after firing Grunwald to bring in Phil Jackson as president.

After all his failures, Dolan is calling upon Rose and Wesley to call all the shots as they attempt to repair the Knicks’ downtrodden image with a pizzazz hiring.

The press release did not mention Wesley’s past credentials — an indicator of his subterranean existence.

While Rose was director of basketball at CAA, Wesley was considered the agency’s consultant the past 15 years.

“He has always been connected — and a winner,’’ one NBA executive said.

Wesley helped Rose in player acquisition and worked with CAA coaches, including Tom Thibodeau. However, sources say Wesley also likes Jason Kidd, who interviewed for the Knicks’ job Thursday.

In a 2007 GQ profile, author Alex French wrote: “Wes is such a perfect realization of the modern American dream — full of old-fashioned wheel-greasing, hustling, and social climbing — that it feels like it was written for the big screen.”

Wesley is nothing short of a polarizing action figure. Though former Knicks Stephon Marbury and Rasheed Wallace mocked the hiring, ESPN’s Jay Williams flew into hyperbole.

Williams indicated Wesley’s presence as a free-agent recruiter could be more essential than Rose’s.

“You’re going to see me at Knicks games this year,’’ Williams said. “When I tell you ‘World Wide Wes’ is the best free-agent hire in the history of the Knicks’ organization, I’m just going to tell you he’s someone who’s been around basketball. We know how this game works. He is sung about in Drake songs — the most connected individual in the history of basketball.

“Let me tell you how ‘World Wide Wes’ works. He has so many high touch points with individuals who have influence. From a player perspective, he’ll get anyone on the phone. He’ll get you to buy into the big picture.”

Marbury’s disdain for the Camden, N.J., product poured through a vicious video last week. The Coney Islander now coaches in China.

“C’mon, man. Did you really just bring ‘World Wide Sucker’ to the New York Knicks,’’ Marbury said. “Really? You brought this dude here?

“Why?

“I’m a real New York Knicks fan. C’mon, Dolan. You gotta be kidding me, man. What’s going on? There’s gotta be an explanation. Not him. Out of all people, you bring this dude here? You bring him to NYC? To New York? He ain’t got no credibility here.”

Indeed, Wesley’s got his enemies. Wallace called the move “a brain fart.” Wallace finds a Rose-Wesley tandem dangerous because “Dolan’s taking on their baggage.”

Wallace pointed out other agents could have pause about sending their clients to the CAA Knicks.

“Whoever they had beef with or problems with now is going to come up and affect them,’’ Wallace told CBS Sports Radio. “Now that they got those executive positions with the Knicks, they might not get these certain players.”

But can it get any worse? The Knicks have laid an egg in free agency for years — the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving-DeAndre Jordan gambit to Brooklyn serving as Dolan’s final straw.

“He adds the relationships he’s built over the years,’’ said NBA insider Rashad Phillips, owner of SportsTalk 2319 mock draft. “The NBA has become a relationship business more than ever. Wes epitomizes the relationship aspect. He’ll do well in New York.’’