Don’t call Howard Stern out for leaving a Knicks game early.

ESPN analyst and former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy did exactly that when the famed radio host bolted the Garden in the third quarter of the Knicks’ rout of the Nets last Wednesday.

“I wouldn’t give you front row seats again if you leave early,” Van Gundy said on the broadcast. “Nick Lachey is still here, (with Knicks) up 27 points.”

Stern caught wind of the criticism and fired back with both barrels at Van Gundy on his Sirius XM show Tuesday morning.

Among other things, Stern explained the reason he had to leave early was because of the dedication it takes to be No. 1 in your radio market — something he claims Van Gundy, who has never won an NBA championship, couldn’t relate to.

“Has he ever won a championship? So, he wouldn’t really understand the effort it takes,” Stern said. “I’ve been No. 1 many times in my career, Jeff, and let me tell you something, it takes intense dedication. I can’t sit at a Knicks game all night, I’ve got way much to do. … Sometimes you have to leave a Knicks game early.”

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