Josh Hart didn’t back down from his “don’t feel included” comment and seemed to disagree with Tom Thibodeau about whether his offensive role diminished.

The Knicks’ forward, who has been struggling with his shot to start the season, agreed that he’s passing up open looks but explained it’s because he rarely handles the ball in Thibodeau’s system.

In other words, Hart isn’t comfortable standing still on the perimeter waiting for a kickout pass.

“I’m a rhythm player. So sometimes if I don’t touch the ball for four or five minutes running up and down the floor, just catch-and-shoot, I might as well be playing with a football,” Hart said. “I feel like I have no feel for [the ball]. There are definitely times I [pass up shots] because I’m not in the rhythm. I don’t like the feel of it.”

Hart, speaking in the locker room Tuesday before the Knicks hosted the Hornets, added it was different last season “when I would bring up the ball and do stuff like that.” It directly contradicted Thibodeau’s pregame press conference from just minutes earlier.

“There really hasn’t been a change,” the coach said. “To be honest, his usage is up. He’s handling the ball more. The way he’s being used is not any different than last year. He’s pushing the ball up in transition. He hasn’t shot the 3 as well as he did last year. But he’s open, he can’t hesitate. He’s got to shoot it.”

Hart, who entered Tuesday’s game shooting just 28.6 percent on treys, responded sarcastically to Thibodeau’s rebuttal with, “Yeah, we’ll go with that.”

Still, the 28-year-old acknowledged that he must adjust to the game plan, rather than vice versa.

“I might have to change my style of play a little bit,” Hart said. “And be more of a catch-and-shoot kind of guy. It really depends on what the team needs and if that’s what my role and my job is going to be this year, that’s what I have to do. I have to make the most of this situation and make the most of the minutes Thibs gives me.”

Hart, who was acquired in the middle of last season and helped push the Knicks to the playoffs, signed a four-year, $80 million extension in the summer. He shot 51.9 percent on 3-pointers in his 25 games last season with the Knicks, which is well above his 34.8 percent career mark. Asked if he discussed this issue with Hart, Thibodeau said, “We’ve talked, we talk all the time. The thing is do what’s best for the team, be mentally tough.”

Hart said he feels for teammate Quentin Grimes, who similarly hangs around the perimeter on offense and waits for catch-and-shoot opportunities.

“I know he’s in a really tough position. Just got to find ways to stay ready, to stay involved, to stay feeling good,” Hart said. “I don’t know what’s going on through his mind. That can sometimes be very frustrating. He’s someone who takes the best matchup every game [as a defensive player] for 82 games. He’s someone who is very durable. That’s tough — especially when you feel like you’re giving everything you have. Just have to find ways to be aggressive, to be involved within the offense, within the system. And just try to make your way.”

The Knicks have three players who initiate the majority of the offense — Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, Immanuel Quickley — and the ball movement is subpar.

They entered Tuesday ranked 28th in assists — which was the same place they finished last season, and were dead last in 2021-22.

Whether or not Hart’s offensive role changed, his defensive duties were certainly altered this season as the backup power forward despite being only 6-foot-4. Thibodeau reiterated he wants Hart to sacrifice for the sake of the team, pointing out that the bench is succeeding with him in his role.

“The most important thing is the net rating of the bench unit. So when you look at those four guys with [RJ Barrett], it’s a plus-10, that’s at the top of the league,” Thibodeau said. “So put what’s best for the team ahead of any individual stuff. It’s all about the team and sacrificing for the team. What’s changed a little for him maybe is defensively, in terms of he has to guard a big. There’s still situations where he’s going to guard the best offensive [perimeter] players. It’s one of his strengths. I want us to take advantage of that. But he can function well with both units. I don’t want him hesitating. If he’s open, shoot the ball.”