Jets sign son of late ex-Nets star Darryl Dawkins to bolster offensive line depth

The Jets on Tuesday quietly signed a young offensive lineman who happens to be the son of an NBA legend. The signing of Nick Dawkins, a 6-4, 305-pound undrafted guard and center, went somewhat unnoticed because he was essentially brought to the practice squad to add depth to a line that lost starting left guard Dylan Parham to a knee injury Sunday.  Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.The 24-year-old Dawkins is the son of longtime NBA favorite Darryl Dawkins, who played for the 76ers, Nets, Jazz and Pistons and died of a heart attack in 2015 when Nick was 13.

Nick Dawkins wears No.53 in honor of one of his father’s NBA uniform numbers. Asked if he’s any good at basketball, Dawkins told The Post: “No, that’s why I’m here.

I can get a lot of rebounds, block a lot of shots and foul, but I can’t really put the ball in the hoop.’’ Dawkins said his dad is always in his thoughts. “I think about him every single day — more so because I miss him, and I wish he’d been able to see the things I’ve been able to do and how I try to represent our last name,’’ Dawkins said.“I think about legacy, but honestly I’m just trying to carve my own path.

I guess doing that is subconsciously still thinking about him, but I’m really just trying to make my own name, make my own bones.’’ Dawkins, who is cousins with Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns, who is Darryl Dawkins’ godson, was signed first by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent after the NFL Draft in April and was waived Sept.3. “This is the first place that was going to give me a fair shake,’’ he said of the Jets signing him.

“I was on the couch for a couple of weeks.I came in for a workout, and I’m appreciative of it.’’ He has a familiar face in the locker room in Jets left tackle Olu Fashanu, with whom he played at Penn State. Fashanu’s face lit up when Dawkins’ signing was brought...