I heard a rumor from a colleague this morning that a member of the Knicks was playing in a local men’s summer league, so I picked up the phone.

The first player who came to mind was Nate Robinson.

He is a man of the people. The guy is constantly in motion and will take full advantage of any opportunity to get in the gym. He puts on a heck of a basketball camp for the kids.

Plus, the only guys around right now are Robinson and David Lee.

It took a couple of calls, but the hunch was right. A couple of acquaintances who play in White Plains at New York Sports Club got the little big man to join Malik’s Crew in the summer league at T.D. Young Community Center in Greenburgh.

Robinson showed up and played three games there, delighting the crowd.

“A lot of fans came out to see him play,” said Boston Keith, the center’s recreation leader. “Usually, he came to help the other guys. Nate forced the defense to double and triple, and then he’d get the ball to somebody else for the basket. You could see he was having fun, and he was really friendly with everybody.”

There’s a reason why people are willing to overlook his flaws on the court, that’ one of them.

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been over there to watch summer league, but it’s a typical gym-rat palace. Small court. Big fans. The rosters are normally filled with high school all-stars and players with college resumes.

Robinson scored 23 points on Monday to get Malik’s Crew into the finals, but he wasn’t available last night and his guys lost 76-70 in the championship game to Frenji.

“I think he had a softball game or something,” Keith said.