SALT LAKE CITY — David Fizdale waited until interim coach Mike Miller was at his lowest ebb before speaking publicly for the first time regarding the end to his Knicks reign.

Breaking his silence on an ESPN radio show Wednesday, Fizdale indicated he probably needed more time to get the Knicks right.

Fizdale was fired a month ago with a record of 4-18. After a fast start, Miller’s Knicks had lost three straight on this Western swing and were 6-9 under his reign entering Wednesday night’s game against the Jazz.

Fizdale said the most challenging part of coaching the Knicks is lack of patience.

“When you’re talking about a rebuild with the Knicks, I think the toughest part about New York City and Madison Square Garden is the patience level,” Fizdale said on the “Golic and Wingo” show on ESPN radio. “It is a team that has struggled for a long time and I think fans really want to get that thing going as soon as possible. It’s unique from that standpoint. There’s other places you can take your time a little more and build more slowly.

“It’s just a matter of time before it comes together,” added Fizdale about a franchise on track to miss the playoffs for a seventh straight season.

Fizdale will start working for ESPN’s studio shows while still collecting the $22 million on his four-year Knicks contract. His final record was 21-83. That is a little more than $1 million a victory being paid by embattled owner James Dolan.

“That’s the business we’ve chosen,” Fizdale said of the threat of getting fired. “I respect those guys greatly. I miss the hell out of them. … I obviously learned a ton from it and I was just really grateful to have that opportunity to say I was the head coach of the Knicks.”

Fizdale did not mention the job Miller has done. Knicks brass encouraged Fizdale to promote Miller to assistant coach after he spent four seasons running the G-League team. Late last season, Fizdale, when asked, said he had no intention to add to his staff. Assistant Keith Smart was also fired with Fizdale.

Fizdale said he had “no ill feelings.” Sources depict Fizdale as hardly distraught about the axing because of the guaranteed money he would be receiving.

In fact, after the fateful Nov. 10 press conference by Knicks president Steve Mills put him on alert, Fizdale was asked if he had any reassurances. Fizdale cracked his assurance was the “2½ years’’ left on his pact.

Knicks officials, despite the recent dip on this road trip, have been pleased with Miller. They believe he has brought more of “a structure’’ to the proceedings and better defensive tactics, notwithstanding this trip, on which they lost in succession to the Suns, Clippers and Lakers, allowing 120, 135 and 117 points, respectively. Miller also does not have a win over a club with a record above .500 as of Wednesday.

Fizdale, however, was viewed as someone who flip-flopped on a lot of issues. The Knicks have posted their first winning streaks under Miller: a two-game streak and a three-game streak.

The main player languishing under Miller’s rule is Kevin Knox, the 2018 lottery pick who has disintegrated on offense. He had averaged 3.9 points in the past six games entering Wednesday.

Their 2019 lottery pick, RJ Barrett, has had his ups and downs but has performed well enough for Fizdale and Miller. While Knox has been accused of having a low motor coming out of college, Barrett is full bore.

“He is not easily rattled,” Fizdale said. “His work ethic is second to none.”

Several prominent coaches have ripped the Knicks for giving up on Fizdale too early. Clippers coach Doc Rivers said Sunday the Mills press conference doomed him, showing the lack of front office support.

Mills and GM Scott Perry have yet to comment publicly about Miller — even in a press release.

For more on the Knicks, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast: