Shock coach Bill Laimbeer acknowledged in a report yesterday he interviewed with Isiah Thomas for three hours last Sunday in New York after his club played the Liberty.

Before the game, Laimbeer would not say if he’d interviewed with Thomas, who had told the media weeks before he would reach out to his former Bad-Boy teammate.

Apparently, Sunday’s interview went well as a person familiar with the search says Laimbeer’s candidacy has been underplayed and he should be considered as strong a candidate as Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo.

However, the sense is Herb Williams is the leading candidate if Isiah can’t get Phil Jackson, Nate McMillan or Larry Brown.

Jackson last met with the Knicks nearly five weeks ago and declined to accompany his girlfriend, Laker VP Jeanie Buss, to New York for Tuesday’s lottery. However, Jax has said he will make his decision by mid-June.