The Knicks don’t want Andre Drummond to be Mitchell Robinson. They just want him to be himself. And the Mount Vernon native who went ninth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft has no issue stepping into the role of backup Knicks center — he might not wear Robinson’s jersey or number, but he’s being asked to fill the same shoes.

It’s everything he ever wanted as a diehard Knicks fan who studied the big men passing through the Madison Square Garden corridors over the years.

Now, entering Year 14, Drummond joins them.

“I think it just made the most sense in terms of where I’m at in my career, what this team had just done — they had just won a championship — and with the addition of my veteran leadership and what I bring to the table, it just made sense for me to come here. I had a bunch of different options, but this option was the best one for me,” the former two-time All-Star (2016, 2018) and four-time NBA rebounding leader said during his introductory press conference at the team’s Tarrytown training facility on Tuesday. “I grew up a Knicks fan from young… So it’s a true honor to put this jersey on.”

The team is reiterating that message to the 33-year-old battle-tested big man who signed a one-year deal with the Knicks to fill the void left by the defensive anchor who set sail for Boston this summer. Drummond and Robinson have overlapping skill sets as dominant rebounders and shot blockers whose games are built on athleticism and defense. Robinson is five years younger than Drummond but has never earned an All-Star, All-NBA or All-Defensive Team honor. Drummond is in the journeyman stage of his career, playing for title contenders on veteran’s-minimum contracts — and like others on this roster, he’ll be asked to outplay that number to help the Knicks repeat as champions.

“Obviously, Mitch was near and dear to all of our hearts. I think the best part of the situation Andre is in, he’s not coming in to be Mitch. He’s coming in to be himself,” team captain Jalen Brunson said Tuesday. “So we’ve gotta give him the confidence to go out there and be himself.”

“We’re not expecting Andre to come in and be Mitch or impact the game in a lot of different ways that Mitch did,” added head coach Mike Brown. “Just be yourself, but everyone else has to step up and box-out a little harder. All those things will make us a top-level team.”

Drummond intends to bring the scat-pack with him: He attempted a career-high 90 3-pointers last season and made 32 of them, converting from deep at a 35.6% clip. Drummond ranked 35th among centers who attempted at least 90 shots from behind the arc last season. He shot 40% from the left corner and 66.7% from the right. Only Kelly Olynyk, Luke Kornet, Mo Wagner, Zeke Nnaji, Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid shot better from the corners during their minutes at center last season.

“For me, if the shot is there, I’ll take it. It’s not something I’m hunting. Same thing in Philadelphia. It’s not a shot I’m hunting. If it’s a good shot, I will take it,” he said. “It’s a shot I’ve worked on. Same thing here. I’ve got the green light to do it. If the shot’s open, take the shot. But my main goal is to help the team the best way I can.”

Drummond believes his skill set and durability make him a valuable contributor to any playoff team.

“[I am] a master at what I do. I’m able to rebound the ball at a high clip. Obviously with the addition of the 3-point shot, being able to be a good pick and roll defender, and just being a great locker room guy overall is what keeps me around,” he said. “I stay healthy. I take care of my body. I do the necessary things to make sure I’m able to play the game at a high level.”

And yet, the newest Knick felt like a stranger his first day in Tarrytown on Tuesday. He is the lone official addition to the roster for the reigning champs, who have another spot available through a training camp battle. The only player Drummond has ever been in the trenches with as a teammate is Bruce Brown, who also spent a chunk of his early career in Detroit.

“This is the first time I’m the only new guy to a team. So it feels kind of weird. Like an outcast trying to fit in but the guys are very welcoming, they made me feel very welcome to be here,” he said. “Everybody’s been very nice and showing me the ropes of how to be a New York Knick.”

The showing of the ropes began with Brunson’s birthday party — Drummond made the guest list.

“I’ve known him from afar. It’s always been mutual, like hi and bye. Always respect,” Brunson said on Tuesday. “That was like first time we really got to sit down and have a conversation. It was kind of an icebreaker type of thing.”

“I gave him a nice hug [not a present, for his birthday],” Drummond added.

Coach Brown believes that with time, Drummond can make an impact in the minutes he plays off the bench in New York.

“He’s a veteran. He’s been there, done that with a few different teams, and he’s a big body, he’s got great feet. Seems like his instincts are pretty good on both ends of the floor,” the coach said. “His feet are quicker than what you could imagine. He’s really light on his feet, which is a good thing.”

Drummond spent the summer trying to shorten the learning curve.

“I’ve been here [in Tarrytown], just learning their system and how they flow both on offense and defense,” he said. “So I’ve got a head start on what’s to come.”