James Borrego staying with Pelicans in blow to Knicks

James Borrego won’t be joining Mike Brown at the Garden.

Borrego, whom the Knicks interviewed for their head coaching vacancy and then eyed as a potential associate head coach after hiring Brown, is staying with the Pelicans in his role as Willie Green’s associate, SNY reported Wednesday.

The Post’s Stefan Bondy previously reported there was skepticism New Orleans would grant Borrego permission to leave for a lateral move.

Brown will get to choose his lead assistant as Bondy reported Tuesday that Jalen Brunson’s dad, Rick, has accepted a lesser role than the one he held under Tom Thibodeau, who was fired last month after the Knicks were eliminated by the Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.

Assistants Darren Erman, Mo Cheeks and Mark Bryant are expected to remain on Brown’s staff as holdovers from Thibodeau’s tenure.