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Knicks hire Leon Rose pal William Wesley to front office

“World Wide Wes” is coming to New York. The Knicks are hiring William Wesley as executive vice president/senior basketball adviser, the team announced Wednesday, adding another boost to Tom Thibodeau’s head coaching candidacy. Wesley, a longtime friend of Knicks president Leon Rose and former consultant at CAA, is known for his connections with stars around …

“World Wide Wes” is coming to New York.

The Knicks are hiring William Wesley as executive vice president/senior basketball adviser, the team announced Wednesday, adding another boost to Tom Thibodeau’s head coaching candidacy.

Wesley, a longtime friend of Knicks president Leon Rose and former consultant at CAA, is known for his connections with stars around the league. He also previously worked with Thibodeau, considered a frontrunner to become the Knicks’ next head coach, while at CAA.

“We are very excited to announce the hiring of William Wesley, someone that I have known for over 40 years and consider to be family,” Rose said in a statement. “He is one of the most well-connected and respected ;people in the basketball community and he will be a tremendous asset and resource to both myself and the New York Knicks.”

Wesley was already working behind the scenes for the Knicks, The Post’s Marc Berman reported. The Camden native is also close to John Calipari, who has said he is not interested in the Knicks job.

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William WesleyWireImage via Getty Images

“My long history with and respect for Jim Dolan and Leon Rose, as well as the chance to be part of the New York Knicks made this an opportunity I wanted to pursue,” Wesley added in a statement. “I look forward to joining the current staff and moving the organization forward.”

Rose was a teenager when he met Wesley, who was then working at Pro Shoe in Cherry Hill. Rose needed a new pair of sneakers and Wesley took care of him that day, Rose’s father Zev previously told The Post, and they have been friends ever since.

“They’re a good team,” Zev Rose said in February.

The Knicks also announced they have hired Alex Kline and TJ Zanin — the brother of new assistant general manager, pro scouting Frank Zanin — as scouts.

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