CLEVELAND — Channing Frye had one of his best and most enjoyable seasons in 2013-14, playing in Phoenix for Jeff Hornacek.

The Suns won 48 games as the surprise team in the league under the then-rookie head coach. Frye, now a Cavaliers reserve, reminisced about his season in the Valley of the Sun with the new Knicks coach.

“Great guy, great coach,” Frye told The Post before Game 5 Sunday. “I thought he did a great job of getting the most of a young team, being able to inspire guys to play hard on a consistent basis and put guys in situations where [they] could flourish and learn. He’s a defensive-minded coach, but also wants to makes sure guys are out and running and playing the right way.”

Frye, a Knicks lottery pick in 2005 out of Arizona, was surprised how easily Hornacek adapted to the job. Frye played four seasons in Phoenix, the last with Hornacek.

“He wasn’t like a rookie coach,” Frye said. “He’s wise beyond his years. I think he’ll do a great job in New York. He’s not worried about the pressure, not worried about anything other than winning and making his players better. He does a good job of being a player’s coach but also at the same time demanding excellence and playing hard every single night. I’d vouch for Jeff every day.”

Reinventing his game, Frye became a 3-point shooter who thrived in Hornacek’s high-tempo, pick-and-roll-heavy offense. Hornacek plans to run the triangle with the Knicks, but with spacing tweaks and more pick-and-rolls.

“We won 48 games, so he was doing something right,” Frye said. “Goran [Dragic] and I had the No. 1-rated screen and roll. [Eric] Bledsoe and Miles Plumee were doing great things. We were 10th in scoring for a team that wasn’t supposed to win 10 games. It was pretty damn good.”

At least for that one season. Frye left as a free agent, and the Suns lost other cogs that put them into a spiral that led to Hornacek’s dismissal last February with a 14-35 record.