The inevitable became a reality on Thursday.

Josh Hart is back.

The hard-playing wing, a major factor in the Knicks’ best season in a decade upon his mid-February arrival, opted into his $12.9 player option after the player and the team agreed on an extension from last Saturday’s deadline.

The move is hardly a surprise.

A fan favorite, Hart raved about his time as a Knick, and had made it abundantly clear he wanted to make New York his long-term home.

The expectation is the two sides will come to an agreement on a contract extension when Hart is eligible for one in August.

It is likely there were under-the-table talks about such a deal in the lead-up to the deadline.

The max he can receive is a four-year, $81 million extension.

This move by Hart gives the Knicks freedom to add a rotation player, potentially Hart and Jalen Brunson’s college teammate, Donte DiVincenzo, in free agency.

They now have the full $12.4 million mid-level exception.

The Knicks used a first-round pick, along with Cam Reddish, Svi Mykhailiuk and Ryan Arcidiacono, to land him.

Portland used that pick (23rd overall) to draft Iowa forward Kris Murray.

Coach Tom Thibodeau regularly raved about the 28-year-old Hart, talking up his selflessness, rebounding fervor and defense-first mantra.

Upon acquiring him, the Knicks won nine straight games.

Hart, a key part of the Knicks’ strong second unit, averaged 10.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 25 regular season games, and notched 10.4 points per game in the playoffs.

Hart had spent the first six years of his NBA career with four different franchises and was traded twice.

The day the Knicks were eliminated, his wife Shannon Phillips gave birth to twins.

Now, once August arrives, he almost certainly won’t have to worry about uprooting his family for several years.