DENVER — In a recent Knicks’ player-developmental meeting among team brass, coaches and trainers, the issue of Kevin Knox’s struggles finishing around the basket arose.

One Knicks strength-and-conditioning coach told the group that expecting the 19-year-old, 6-foot-9, 216-pounder to master the rugged skill of finishing through contact is unrealistic for this season. Knox’s body core is not yet developed enough.

Tuesday at Denver’s Pepsi Center began the new year and it looked like a new Knox. It wasn’t the 18 points Knox compiled, but the way he delivered them.

Three times in the first half, he rallied to the basket, hit a close-in runner despite getting fouled. That’s new.

“I keep getting more aggressive,’’ said Knox, who is averaging 18.7 points in his past 10 games. “Getting to the rim and knocking down open shots, making sure to keep attacking and getting to the rim, playing the aggressive way I’m playing. I hope to keep it up.’’

After a disappointing start to his rookie year, the Knicks lottery pick has come on since Dec. 1.

His defense leaves much to be desired, but the natural scoring ability has come out in spades. He’ll be in contention for Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December after averaging 17.1 points, tops among conference rookies, 6.0 rebounds, and 38.4 percent from 3-point land.

Knox’s 11 straight double-figure games are the second-most by a Knicks rookie over the last 30 seasons. Knox’s short midrange game has improved statistically recently. From 4-12 feet, Knox is shooting 42 percent the past nine games as opposed to 25 percent his first 22.

Knox, the second-youngest player in the NBA, possesses an explosive first step but too many times the ball has been swatted away in the paint or he misses wildly with the defense collapsing.

“We spend a lot of time hitting him while he’s going to the basket and making him take that extra dribble like we talked about early in the season,’’ Fizdale said after the hotly contested 115-108 loss to Denver. “He’s starting to turn the corner.”

The defensive side, however, will take a while.

“He’s never going to be Kawhi Leonard,’’ one NBA scout said.

In Denver, Knox failed to box out twice late in the first half, leading to Nuggets’ second-chance baskets. He notched four rebounds in 38:42. Denver got a big momentum push when Malik Beasley drained a 3 over Knox in the closing seconds of the third quarter.

“It’s watching more film,’’ Knox said. “There were box-outs we missed out on and I missed out on. Some guys made tough shots over good contests. It’s something I have to watch film on working into getting better position. They were hitting tough shots over my contests. I give them credit but I have to play better defense.’’

Fizdale, who mostly shies away from negativity, admitted, “His defense has got to get better and he’s got to get on the glass more. But those are things we’re going to keep chipping away at and building with him.”

Emmanuel Mudiay didn’t have his best game in his Denver return, but it was far better than anything he showed last February after the Nuggets traded him to the Knicks. Mudiay finished with 15 points, nine assists, four turnovers, one block and two steals. He shot 7 of 20, but he was getting into the paint with ease.

“We competed hard, but me personally, I missed too many easy shots, too many easy bunnies,’’ Mudiay said.

It was a class act by Nuggets management putting up Mudiay’s picture on the scoreboard during a first-quarter stoppage with a “Thank You’’ message.

“It was a cool,’’ said Mudiay, the Nuggets’ lottery pick in 2015. “I’m proud of the way they are playing. Coach (Mike) Malone’s got them right.’’

Malone said before the game he sees on film “confidence’’ from Mudiay, who has started the last 24 games.

“Here is a young man that Fiz has put the ball in his hands,’’ Malone said. “He’s going out attacking and shooting the ball with great confidence. Forget the style of play. It’s just mentally Emmanuel having the confidence of knowing he can go out there and play his game very single night.’’