#Tom Thibodeau has formal interview with Knicks

Tom Thibodeau, lead candidate to coach the Knicks, had his second interview with the club via Zoom on Thursday, an NBA source confirmed.

Thibodeau, a former Knicks assistant and head coach of the Bulls and Timberwolves, has the inside track on the job.

Thibodeau was represented by Creative Artist Agency when Leon Rose and William Wesley — now members of the Knicks front office — ran its basketball department and have a strong rapport.

Rose is interviewing at least 11 candidates and already finished interviews with coaches in the Orlando bubble — Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka, Pat Delaney and Jamahl Mosley.

Rose said he would interview each candidate twice and figured he would have a decision by the end of the month, at the latest.

Bulls assistant Chris Fleming, the team’s offensive coordinator, also reportedly interviewed Thursday.

Thibodeau’s stint in Minnesota ended poorly with friction among his young players and a charge he didn’t buy into load management. But the 62-year-old’s career won-loss record is heady (352-246, .589).

“I hope he gets another opportunity to be a head coach, because if you look at his body of work he certainly deserves it and any team that may interview him or hire him would be very fortunate to have him as a head coach,’’ said Jeff Van Gundy, who hired Thibodeau as his assistant in 1996. “He gets thought of as a defensive coach, but if you look at his best teams in Chicago and in Minnesota, they were very high-level, statistically speaking, offensive teams and I think it’s been overlooked.’’

The recent hiring of Wesley was seen as a boost to Thibodeau’s candidacy. Rose said recently he needs the new coach to have “a collaboration with the front office.’’ Wesley, Rose, Knicks GM Scott Perry and vice president of strategy Brock Aller are conducting the interviews.