This cloud hovering over the Knicks was exactly what Josh Hart wanted to avoid. 

Now that a lack of a contract extension is his reality, though, he doesn’t have much choice other than to accept it. 

“Everything is gonna work out, so I’m not really too stressed over it, [or] put too much into it,” Hart said after practice Saturday. “Obviously, we have high expectations. It’s good to be able to just focus on the season and keep it moving.” 

Hart spoke during media day about not wanting his negotiations with the Knicks over a contract extension “trickling into the season,” knowing that uncertainty could at times “wear people down and it can affect how you go out and handle business on a day-to-day basis.” Ideally, it all would have been handled before the season started. 

But the Knicks released a statement Friday that they were suspending all contract extension negotiations until later in the season as they navigate owner James Dolan’s mandate to stay out of the second apron. Karl-Anthony Towns’ displeasure over the current situation has gotten the most attention, but Hart — who is eligible for a four-year, $131.2 million extension — has detailed the potential negative ramifications a lack of clarity can have on the team. Miles McBride is also eligible for an extension. All will now have to play with that uncertainty hanging over their heads. 

A day after the statement was released, Hart acknowledged that it will be something they have to deal with. 

“There will be days when you don’t think about it, days where you’re like, ‘Let’s hoop,’ and then other days where it’s top of the mind,” Hart said. “We’re human, sometimes it’s difficult if you don’t know what your future is. Sometimes that’s tough, battling that, some days. But some days, you’re not even worried about it. You just gotta focus on going out there and hooping. Obviously, there’s a humanity side to it. Right now, I’m cool. I’m focused on the season.” 

Hart is set to make $20.9 million this year and has a team option for $22.3 million next year. Both he and Towns have said they are willing to make financial sacrifices to keep this group together, but Hart also previously said there was little progress toward finding a number both sides were happy with. Towns was more direct, saying the offer — which The Post’s Stefan Bondy reported was for four years and about $200 million (about $77 million less than his max) — wasn’t in a range that “values” him. 

Jalen Brunson is eligible for an extension next year and is in line for a significant pay raise. Keeping everyone together is a juggling act that has the potential for hurt feelings. 

“At the end of the day, I’m under contract in New York,” Hart said. “We have a hell of a team that’s gonna try and repeat. I’m in an amazing situation off the court. No, it’s not frustrating. Obviously, you want to get some of those things done, but if it doesn’t, it’s nothing where you lose sleep over it. We’re blessed to be out here playing basketball for a living. It’s not frustrating, we just gotta make sure we continue to block out the noise and whatever rumors that whatever random person says their sources said on Twitter or whatever you want to say, we just gotta block that out and keep it moving.” 

Nobody knows Hart better than Brunson — and nobody knows how Hart will handle this uncertainty better than him. 

“He’s gonna be a professional,” Brunson said Saturday. “Not just him — everybody. Everyone’s gonna be professional and continue to do their jobs. No matter what the situation is, things are gonna happen. There’s always gonna be a roller coaster every season. Ups and downs emotionally. No matter what, when we’re out there on the court, we’re gonna have each other’s backs.” 

And as Knicks captain, not letting this all become a distraction that derails their hopes of repeating as champions will be a new challenge for Brunson’s leadership. 

“There’s only potential distractions when you read and believe what people are saying,” Brunson said. “No matter what’s being said, no matter what’s being talked about consistently or not, you believe what you wanna believe, you hear what you wanna hear. It’s on us as teammates and individuals and professionals to understand what the nature of it is. People are gonna talk about it. So we gotta control what we can control and do our jobs. 

“We’re gonna have each other’s back, regardless. We’re human, as well. There’s gonna be days we have good days, bad days, whatever. I think the way we won was just because of how connected we were as a group, so we gotta keep that.” 

That connection is now being tested.