Though his buddy Mark Jackson is up for the same gig, former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy hasn’t ruled out being a candidate for the coaching job. However, during a radio interview Friday, he tried mostly to deflect the situation while giving a strong endorsement to his broadcast partner.

There’s a sense the awkwardness of colleagues and close friends competing for the same job could sway Van Gundy from making a hot pursuit if the Knicks turn out to be interested. He made it clear he thought Jackson, who played for him with the Knicks, would be an excellent hire.

But asked if he would be interested if team president Steve Mills asked him for an interview, Van Gundy, Friday on “The Michael Kay Show” said:

“I always keep changing my answer to the same question. Now that the job is available, I can say I just don’t talk about coaching searches. I don’t think it does anybody any good. It doesn’t do me any good, the teams any good. If teams want to comment, that’s their right. For myself, it’s so much better not to get drawn in those type of conversations publicly. You guys know I’m a huge Knicks fan and I want what’s best for them. Whatever they decide, I hope it works for them.’’

That said, Van Gundy gave Jackson, the former Warriors coach, the highest platitudes, even praising his playing days, stating he “should be in the Hall of Fame’’.

“We know the Warriors now, but the Warriors today weren’t the Warriors that Mark took over,’’ Van Gundy said. “He took over a group where they drafted Klay Thompson, but he was nowhere near where he was today. [Stephen] Curry was hurt and went through with [his] ankle issues. What Mark did was gave them structure, gave them sound defense. They became an elite defensive team. He started on them on this process of being a dynasty.

“I think he’s one of the most exceptional leaders I’ve ever been around. Not just his ability to communicate. He’s a great speaker. He has an exceptional way to relate to any type of person — whether a highly paid player or bottom guy. Mark has every qualification that any team would want, but in particular New York.’’

Van Gundy quit the Knicks early in the 2001-02 season and owner James Dolan long held a grudge. One potential thing that could disqualify him is Mills and general manager Scott Perry have emphasized the new coach needs to be willing to work as a team with the front office — which wants to be highly involved with the daily workings, attending all the practices and road games. Van Gundy’s reputation is more old-school, with him feeling management should be more removed.

It has been 11 years since Van Gundy was on the NBA sidelines, with the Rockets. But he said his summer job as head coach of Team USA in the AmeriCup competition got him even more juiced to coach again.

“I’m coaching right now a USA basketball team to help the main guys to get qualified for the World Cup, with G-League guys,’’ Van Gundy said. “It was an incredible, great experience. It’s been refreshing. It reteaches me why I love coaching basketball. I never lost the desire to coach. There’s been some jobs that have been offered to me that I don’t feel was a good fit. There’s others I wanted and they chose to go in a different direction.”No one’s luckier than me in that I have a great job right now.’

His brother, Stan Van Gundy, seemed to campaign earlier this month for his brother to get an interview with the Knicks after being told Dolan appears over the hard feelings because of a video tribute Jeff received on the scoreboard during a game he broadcast two seasons ago. Stan said he sat next to Patrick Ewing on the Magic bench for many Garden tributes and Ewing “never got an interview for any freaking job they had.’’

On the Kay show, Jeff Van Gundy said any perception he didn’t like working for Dolan is bogus.

“I don’t know how that all got started,’’ Van Gundy said. “I’ve had two owners — Jim Dolan and Les Alexander in Houston. Both were terrific. They wanted to win badly and gave you the resources to win. I’m not saying he doesn’t have an issue with me. He may well have issues with me. But I have none with him.”