Former teammate makes a joke about Enes Kanter’s defense

OKLAHOMA CITY — Enes Kanter and his former Thunder teammate Steven Adams were up to their old zany antics Wednesday at Chesapeake Arena.

“He always tries to troll me and tells me I suck, but it’s all love in the end,” Kanter said after scoring 19 points on 8 of 11 shooting in the Knicks’ 128-103 blowout loss to Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

It got almost surreal when Adams came up to Knicks coach David Fizdale during a stoppage and was overheard saying to him: “Sub him, he can’t play defense.’’

Adams said he was jesting.

“He’s a bloody good player — best to have him off the floor,’’ said Adams, who is from New Zealand. “It’s just because he’s such a good player. I was trying to get him out.’’

In a chilling moment when Kanter checked into the game late in the first quarter, he received a terrific ovation.

“It’s always nice to come back here,’’ Kanter said. “Fans are one of the best in the league. Every time I come here in the summertime they always give me a cheer.”

Perhaps Kanter wouldn’t mind an Oklahoma City return. He is grudgingly coming off the bench for raw rookie center Mitchell Robinson as the Knicks began their tank/developmental mode earlier than expected.

Kanter told Robinson before the game of Adams’ “tricks’’ but he couldn’t be contained as he scored 15 of his 19 points in the first half, notching five badists, seven rebounds and shooting 9 of 13 in 30 minutes.

Robinson blocked one of Adams’ shots and had three blocks total. He scored six points (3 of 4) with one rebound in 18 minutes.