Long Island’s Tobias Harris will face the Knicks on Friday at the Garden as a member of the Orlando Magic, but it won’t be nearly as emotional as Thursday night was.

Harris, a free agent forward the Knicks plan to pursue this summer, broke down and wept during a speech at Half Hollow Hills West gymnasium, where his No. 12 became the first jersey retired in the Dix Hills school’s history.

The honor was kept under wraps. Harris thought he was attending a ceremony to commemorate his 2007-08 team that captured the Suffolk County championship.

Harris got choked up when he started talking about his mother, Lisa, and father, Torrel, pillars of the community, pausing for 20 seconds before composing himself.

“I was surprised,’’ said Harris, who wore 12 in high school to honor an AAU teammate who died of a rare blood disease. “I thought it was just for our championship team. I’m blessed. Like I was telling the guys, there isn’t a day that goes by I don’t think about my high school career.’’

Harris will look to collect himself Friday, when he has a virtual audition at the Garden to be Carmelo Anthony’s future running mate. They worked out together over the summer.

“It’s always exciting,’’ Harris said of facing the Knicks. “No place like home. Love being at home, playing at home in front of family and friends. It’s going to be a good game.”

Harris has a big summer ahead, electing to become a restricted free agent rather than signing Orlando’s four-year, $36 million extension offer. A source told The Post in November the Knicks are tops on his list.

Thursday night, a close friend of Harris told The Post, “He wants to win a championship with the Knicks.’’

However, Harris is extremely careful when speaking about free agency.

“I don’t think about it too much,’’ Harris said. “I’m trying to play basketball, worry about the present with Orlando. That’s my mindset. After the season, when that time comes, we’ll be able to discuss that and go from there.’’

The Knicks will have $32 million in cap space. Derek Fisher has given many indications he’s just as happy to add solid two-way contributors with strong work ethics as opposed to superstars. That’s why many in the league predict team president Phil Jackson will spread his cap money around on second-tier character guys such as Wesley Matthews, Harris and Draymond Green.

“I’m not really too surprised,’’ Harris said of the Knicks’ struggles. “It’s part of the NBA. It’s just Phil Jackson’s first year here. You can see he’s making some moves to do some big things [this summer].’’

Anthony and Harris played on the same team during pickup games at Anthony’s gym in Manhattan last summer. “I look at a guy like Carmelo with the size and skills he has and I try to mimic my game after him a bit,’’ Harris said recently.

Harris just returned from a sprained ankle that caused him to miss five games. Mysteriously, he’s now been cast in a reserve role despite his 18-point scoring average. Wednesday in Detroit, Harris still led a fourth-quarter Magic comeback, finishing with 19 points.

Harris claims he’s OK with his new role, but it could be Orlando trying to suppress his market value. Orlando can match any offer and there’s speculation the Magic could try to trade Harris before February’s deadline to get an asset.

“I don’t know yet,’’ Harris said when asked whether he has lost his starting job for good. “Part of the NBA is being able to play a role to the best of your ability and being consistent.’’