LAS VEGAS — Kevin Knox II didn’t become a national story at summer league this time, but he showed off a bulked-up frame that will make him more powerful in getting to the rim and absorbing contact.

That was an issue as a rookie last season. However, Knox’s expected progression doesn’t guarantee he’ll play more in his second season.

The Knicks didn’t get Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving, but they added a boatload of experienced depth. And that is before the potential signing of veteran Marcus Morris, whose best position is Knox’s position — small forward.

Knox expects “brutal’’ competition at training camp, which will open Sept. 30, according to a source.

“It’s totally going to be different from last year,’’ Knox acknowledged when his summer league had unofficially ended late Wednesday with a 25-point outburst at Thomas & Mack Center. “Rookie season, Mitch [Robinson] and Allonzo [Trier] got a lot of good minutes. That’s part of the development stage we were at. This year we got a lot of vets and older guys that will come in looking to play.”

In 2018-19, Knox shot just 37 percent in 75 games, making 57 starts and averaging 29 minutes. If Morris signs for $14.8 million, it might be hard to justify having the Rich Paul client come off the bench.

“We’re going to have to earn our minutes and fight for playing time on the court,” Knox said. “Training camp is going to be brutal. I know I got to earn my minutes this year because we brought in a lot of great guys.”

Knox is not complaining. In fact, he has indicated he was given too much responsibility too soon at age 19 on David Fizdale’s historic tank machine that tied the franchise’s worst record at 17-65.

“The guys they brought in, I think they’re going to help me a lot this season,’’ Knox said. “All those guys compete very hard. It’s going to push me to play on both sides of the court. You got Julius [Randle], Taj [Gibson], Wayne [Ellington] and [Bobby] Portis. I think they’re going to push me and help me have a great second year.’’

Though he has declined to talk at summer league, Knicks president Steve Mills wants to win this season. Hence, Knox will need more efficiency – and he’s on his way. Working with weights all summer has helped.

In four summer league games, Knox averaged 17 points on 41 percent shooting, but got to the line frequently and shot confidently from the 3-point line in all but one game.

On Wednesday against the Lakers, Knox made nine of 12 free throws in what likely was his last game of summer league (the 1-3 Knicks play a consolation game Friday or Saturday).

“I felt different,’’ Knox said. “I probably didn’t put up the numbers I did last year or have all the highlights. But I was feeling more comfortable, confident, dribbling the basketball, shooting the ball. I feel a lot stronger out there. I feel I had a really good summer and feel better going into the season this year.’’

Though it didn’t result in a basket, Knox showed keener vision than he did in his rookie year on a sequence in the final seconds of the first half against the Lakers.

Knox barreled into the lane, got doubled and whipped it beautifully to rookie RJ Barrett in the right corner. Barrett bricked the 3-pointer, but it was a good sign of Knox’s court awareness. He averaged just one assist per game last season.

Summer league coach Jud Buechler said two keys to Knox’s progression are drawing more fouls and rebounding better so he could push the ball up the court as a point forward.

“I can see him physically being stronger, his body starting to develop,’’ Buechler said. “I think he’s going to make a big jump in what he’s going to do next year. We want his mindset to drive in there to dunk the ball. I felt like last year he got pushed around a little bit in those finishes. This year he seems to be finishing much stronger in summer league.”