When former Kansas University assistant basketball coach Norm Roberts and his family needed a summer break, they decided to do what most New Yorkers don’t — take a trip to Kansas.

Roberts was on hand at the first day of coach Bill Self’s Parent-Child Basketball Camp, taking in the festivities along with son Justin.

“I came back to see Bill and his family,” Roberts said. “His family and my family are very close. We took a little vacation to come back on the weekend.”

Roberts was away from Self for the first time in eight years last season after taking the head-coaching position at St. John’s. He previously had been an assistant under Self at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas.

“Norm’s a fantastic guy, and he loved his year here,” Self said. “He’s always going to be somebody that loves Kansas.”

The former assistant also checked in on some of the players he helped bring to Kansas as a recruiter: sophomores Russell Robinson, Sasha Kaun, Darnell Jackson and C.J. Giles.

“Coming into a veteran team like they did, I think that will help them a lot in the future,” Roberts said. “I think they all gained some valuable experience out there playing. If there’s one thing about Kansas basketball, it’s that the future’s really bright.”

Roberts, who led the Red Storm to a 9-18 record last year, was able to stop by before playing host to his own camps.

While Justin played one-on-one with Self’s son, Tyler, Norm watched most of the parent-child camp from the sidelines.

“We’ve done these (parent-child) camps at all the other spots we have been at, and this is probably the most fun camp,” Roberts said. “You’ve got parents working with their sons and daughters and spending time up in the dorms. That’s what makes it special.”

Self agreed that the two-day camp was especially enjoyable.

“In this camp, kids get to touch the players a lot more, just because of numbers,” he said. “In my personal opinion, all camps are fun, but this is the most fun.”

¢ NBA Finals reaction: Self did not make the trip to San Antonio for Game 7 of the NBA Finals, but he still was happy for longtime friend and Spurs’ general manager R.C. Buford after San Antonio’s 81-74 victory over Detroit on Thursday night.

Self and Buford were together at Oklahoma State, then Self was an assistant coach with him at Kansas in 1985-86 when they coached the junior-varsity team to a 12-7 record.

“He showed me around on my visit to Oklahoma State, and he’s played a huge role in my career and life,” Self said. “We were in each other’s weddings. I think he deserves everything coming his way.”

Both were assistant coaches under Larry Brown, the coach of the runner-up Detroit Pistons.