French point guard Frank Ntilikina, after arriving at Liberty International Airport in Newark on Tuesday for Thursday’s NBA draft, denied a report his preference is to be drafted by the Mavericks over the Knicks.

Ntilikina, 18, reiterated the Knicks are a strong option for him because he fits well into triangle principles. The Mavericks have hired his Strasbourg coach, Vince Collett, for Dallas’ summer-league team. If the Knicks pass on Ntilikina at No. 8, the Mavericks, whose owner, Mark Cuban, flew to Venice recently to meet Ntilikina, are expected to nab him at No. 9.

“I have no preference like that,’’ Ntilikina told The Post. “All I need is to be in a really good project for me. I know it will all then depend on me. The NBA draft is just a step to the real goal — to make a big career in the NBA. I just want to be in a good project and atmosphere.’’

The Knicks and Mavericks have shown the most interest in Ntilikina, who was unable to work out for NBA teams because his Strasbourg club made the ongoing French finals.

The winner-take-all Game 5 is set for Friday in Chalon. Ntilikina revealed he will return to France for the deciding game and not miss it, as his agents had warned. He will fly back to France on a charter.

“I’m enjoying the process here, but I will have time to focus on my French team, talk to teammates, see what happens in practice and go back to France to play Game 5,’’ Ntilikina said. “Now I’m enjoying the draft process. I will take it step by step and go back to France and try to win a championship.’’

The Knicks are intrigued by Ntilikina because of his size (6-foot-5), 7-foot wingspan, his doggedness on defense and his high basketball IQ, which comes along with his pass-first mentality. There are concerns within the organization his numbers — 5.2 points, 1.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 18 minutes per game during the regular season — weren’t greater in France.

As Ntilikina flew to New York, a report surfaced the Knicks still were listening to offers for Kristaps Porzingis. Ntilikina admitted if he is drafted by the Knicks, he would want Porzingis as a teammate.

“For sure I hope he’s on the team,’’ Ntilikina said. “We can be good together, good playing together. We [can] have a really good relationship on and off the court. He’s a really good player and helps the team win.’’

Ntilikina got a rough New York introduction, waiting on the customs line at Newark for close to two hours. He was slated to take an NBA physical to be distributed to teams on Tuesday but still was at the airport at the scheduled time of the appointment.

“I actually am really excited to be here,’’ Ntilikina said. “It’s like a dream come true. I’m going to enjoy the process with my family and friends.’’

Ntilikina was accompanied by his mother and New York-based agent Rich Felder of Creative Arts Agency. He still is waiting to hear if he will speak with Knicks president Phil Jackson before the draft. General manager Steve Mills and top adviser Clarence Gaines — but not Jackson — flew to France to watch Ntilikina play.

“We will see — my family and agents will take care of it,’’ Ntilikina said.

NBA TV’s draft analyst Mike Fratello had criticized the notion of Ntilikina possibly not returning for Game 5. Though Fratello said he believes Ntilikina is a project, he sees a lot of good in taking him.

“If the Knicks draft him, he might not play much the first two years,’’ Fratello said. “But he has great upside, with size, a terrific defender. He has range on his shot. A terrific kid, from everyone I talked to there in France I know, and he loves basketball. He’s an assist-first type guy. He’d rather throw a pass for a layup than create a shot for himself. And he’s a big point-guard prospect. That’s what he is: a point guard — not a 2- guard.’’