PHILADELPHIA — Emmanuel Mudiay didn’t speak to the media last season while playing with Denver — that’s how miserable and shaky he was there. Now the former errant-shooting point guard is playing loudly on the court and making the Knicks think hard about their point-guard future.
During a 9-23 campaign, the 22-year-old from Dallas has become the brightest bulb after being installed as starting point guard for the game at Oklahoma City on Nov. 14.
After a sloppy audition with the Knicks following his acquisition at the February trade deadline, Mudiay looks like a new player, a new shooter — and maybe a keeper. It’s David Fizdale’s finest win amid all the defeats.
Now the Knicks, who visit the 76ers on Wednesday, may have no choice but to re-sign him if better free-agent options collapse, which is possible.
In starting 18 straight games and staying healthy, he has been their best player on several nights, including in two of the past three games. He willed the Knicks to victory in Charlotte on Friday with a career-high 34 points. He then had 32 points, six assists and six rebounds in the horrifying 128-110 home loss to the Suns on Monday.
After the thriller in Charlotte, Hornets coach James Borrego noted Mudiay hurt his Hornets from everywhere in outdazzling free-agent-to-be Kemba Walker, who is on the Knicks’ radar.
“[Mudiay] is scoring a number of ways,’’ Borrego said. “He got to his pull-up, he got to the rim. He got to the free-throw line. Mudiay stayed aggressive. I give him credit.’’
It’s no secret Fizdale has made the 6-foot-5 Mudiay his pet project and he has outperformed Frank Ntilikina and Trey Burke. Now Mudiay joins a select stud group of players 22 or younger.
Of that group, only Mudiay, the Sixers’ Ben Simmons, the Pacers’ Domantas Sabonis and the Kings’ De’Aaron Fox have averaged at least 13 points, three assists and 47 percent or better shooting from the field. Mudiay’s shooting percentage is up to 47.1 percent (from 38.8 percent last season) and he’s hitting a respectable 33 percent from 3-point range.
Mudiay is a man of few words when it comes to talking about himself. Still disappointed after the loss to the Suns, Mudiay said regarding his rebirth: “Just playing with confidence. That’s the main thing.”
Fizdale gave Mudiay an interesting — if backhanded — compliment Monday. The coach said he came into the season not knowing if the 2015 lottery pick of the Nuggets belonged in a rotation and that he still had more to prove regarding his viability as the team’s long-term starter at point guard.
“I think it’s enough now we know this kid is an NBA rotation player,’’ Fizdale said. “How far it goes from there is going to be what he does. You get to a third of the season and consistently putting in 20, 30 [points], six rebounds, six assists. First thing he had to prove to himself and to everyone is if he’s a legitimate NBA player. That’s proven now. The next step is can we get him to grow and develop and show the consistency of what a lead guard would do. He’s taken off and really gotten better every day.”
There are two sides of the game and Mudiay’s defense still is not stellar. There’s a reason the Knicks rank 26th in defensive rating.
As one NBA scout cautioned: “He can score, but not too sure he understands the game at a higher level on defense. Maybe a little immature?”
Mudiay’s conditioning and confidence have been cited by Fizdale multiple times as increasing. Former NBA coach Larry Brown, a big fan who tried to draw Mudiay to SMU, told The Post before the season that conditioning is what held him back from establishing himself. Now he’s finally putting in the “hard work,” as Fizdale noted. But he’s also now playing for a new contract beyond his rookie deal.
Mudiay’s cap hold will be $12.8 million, meaning if the Knicks keep it attached they would have no room for a max free agent. But the Knicks don’t have to remove the cap hold until they know one way or another if, say, Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving are coming. By keeping the hold, the Knicks can go over the cap to sign Mudiay.
“He puts in the time every day since we got hold of him with our stuff,’’ Fizdale said. “So he can be solid 3-point shooter. His confidence is up knowing that. I’m going to give him full throttle to shoot open 3’s. I’m really happy the way he’s been attacking.’’
According to sources, the staff has worked with Mudiay on his 3-point shot and also on his ability to finish on floaters. He’s often seen shooting a bunch of lane shots with a weighted ball at practice. His skill at finishing around the rim, as noted by former Nuggets scout Jared Jeffries after the trade to the Knicks, was an issue in Denver. He’ll be making his Denver return Jan. 1.
“No one here knows what was really on his mind,’’ one Denver insider said of Mudiay.
Certainly Mudiay won’t be silent in any way.