WEST POINT — Knicks center Joakim Noah skipped Thursday night’s team dinner at the mess hall with Army cadets and a speech from a retired colonel because of his stance against war and gun violence.

Noah said he feels “uncomfortable’’ the Knicks are conducting training camp for the third straight year at West Point, where the United States Military Academy is based. The Knicks break camp Saturday.

“It’s hard for me a little bit — I have a lot of respect for the kids here fighting — but it’s hard for me to understand why we go to war and why kids have to kill kids all around the world,’’ Noah said. “I have mixed feelings about being here. I’m very proud of this country. I love America. I don’t understand kids killing kids around the world.’’

Noah received permission from Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek to skip the team function. He was the only member of the team not in attendance. Noah said his decision to skip the dinner and speech was not intended as a form of protest.

“It’s not my way of saying anything — I was not comfortable,’’ Noah said.

Not surprisingly, the U.S. Military Academy called the move “inappropriate.”

“The U.S. Military Academy at West Point develops leaders of character for the defense of our nation,” Lt. Col. Christopher Kasker, a West Point spokesman, said in a statement. “We are disappointed and feel Mr. Noah’s choice of West Point to make a statement is inappropriate because of the great sacrifice that has originated from this institution over our nation’s history.”

In what appeared to be no coincidence, the Knicks PR Twitter account posted a series of photos of Noah chatting with cadets after Friday night’s second session. A Knicks official said Noah spoke at length to a handful of cadets, asking them questions about their West Point experience and future after graduation.

According to the official, Noah also spoke to an army officer and told him he did not mean to “offend” the cadets by not showing up to the dinner.

The speech was given to the Knicks for the second straight year by retired Col. Steve Merkel. Hornacek said he wants to give Noah audio of the speech because he feels Noah missed out.

“It’s his right,’’ Hornacek said. “We want him part of the team group. He just didn’t feel comfortable. We’re not going to pressure him into doing that. We had a speaker who I thought was fantastic. I told him maybe I can get him a copy of the speech, so he can hear some of it. It’s his right. That’s fine.

“With all his stuff he does against gun violence, it’s plenty fine with us.’’

Hornacek said the colonel’s speech focused on “team building and how it can translate to basketball.”

“Guys took a lot out of it,’’ Hornacek added. “He talked to the guys last year. For the new guys, they really enjoyed listening to him.’’

Hornacek also said the players who attended the mess-hall gathering loved the experience. “It’s great being out there – the mess hall with 4,400 people at the same time eating,’’ Hornacek said. “You see them all come in there, sitting at the tables talking. Next thing you hear the noise and rumble, and the whole place fills up. It’s fun to be around.”

Noah, in his first season with the Knicks, is expected to be the team’s vocal, emotional leader. Noah doesn’t believe his absence will affect team bonding.

“It is what it is,’’ Noah said. “I didn’t commit a crime or anything.’’

Noah has dual citizenship in the United States and France, the home of his father, Yannick Noah, the former tennis star. Noah admitted, “I’m not a patriotic person,” believing people should “should support other people’’ more than “flags.’’

“My father is more patriotic than I am,’’ Noah said.

Noah, 31, who spent the previous nine seasons with the Bulls, runs a foundation called Noah’s Arc to benefit children that in part fights gun violence.

“It’s changed my life the way I see things,” Noah said. “I spent a lot of time in Chicago in the neighborhoods trying to fight the gun violence. The truth is we’re losing big time. It’s just sad not enough is being done about it. This is the best country in the world, most powerful country in the world, and you go into some of these neighborhoods and feel you’re in a Third World country or war zone.’’

Noah gave no indication he’d kneel during the national anthem, but said he supported NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who in recent weeks has popularized that form of protest in sports. Carmelo Anthony has said any protests among the Knicks will be done as a team.

“It’s very important right now for athletes to take a stand, but it has to be more than that,’’ Noah said. “The violence in this country is out of control.’’

Noah missed the first two days of Knicks preseason at their Tarrytown headquarters because of the birth of his daughter. He said it’s been a distraction not being able to see her.