Immanuel Quickley stuck with what worked after his breakthrough season.
The Knicks’ guard spent another offseason with Reese Whitely, the Miami-based trainer who established three goals for Quickley’s body: avoid injuries, add weight, increase power.
“He came in this summer and wanted to make sure he was injury-proof, in essence, so we worked on a lot of correctives at the beginning of the summer,” Whitely told The Post. “From there, we transitioned to a lot of strength movements. He wanted to put on some size, wanted to gain about 10 pounds, and he achieved that.
“He wanted to be stronger so he can take contact, finish at the rim a lot better. Be able to get off defenders or defend even better. And we worked totally throughout the summer on plyometrics and power. So that he could maintain his explosion and increase vertical leap.”
It sounds like an overly ambitious to-do list for one summer but Quickley, according to Whitely, was committed to the results.
The guard trained five days per week over about four months, providing himself an elevated physical baseline after finishing runner-up for Sixth Man of the Year.
“I feel like I got a lot stronger, locking in with my guy Reese back in Miami, we pretty much went like five days a week, taking care of my body, lifting, eating right, stronger and just pretty much every facet,” Quickley said before finishing with a game-high 21 points in just 23 minutes of the Knicks’ 114-107 preseason win over the Celtics.
It was the third consecutive summer that Quickley worked with Whitely, who also trains Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III, among other elite athletes.
Last offseason’s work with Whitely — which also produced a 10-pound gain to the 195 range — helped Quickley absorb contact and take giant leaps in efficiency.
Quickley went from shooting 49 percent from within 10 feet of the basket in 2021-22 to 57 percent.
“I think my training worked last season. He was back again this summer too — so that speaks for itself,” Whitely said. “I know you have a bunch of options and you have to find the ones that works for you.
“He reached all the goals from last year, performed spectacularly in my opinion,” added Whitely, who works out of Complex Health & Wellness in South Miami. “I think this year he’s going into it with the same mindset — or a better mindset.”
It’s a group effort to push Quickley. Whitely collaborates with the Knicks on physical issues and strengthening. Andrew Moran, also in Miami, focuses on the on-court work.
Tom Thibodeau added that Quickley’s experience has assisted with defense, in particular.
“The thing to me is the ability to think on his feet. He’s gotten stronger but I think he’s a student of the game, that’s probably the biggest asset is knowing your opponent, knowing the tendencies of players, the tendencies of teams,” the Knicks coach said. “And I think that’s what makes him so effective defensively.”
Depending on how Quickley’s extension negotiations go, it may also be a contract season for the 24-year-old guard. He has until Oct. 23 (5 p.m.) to reach a deal or become a restricted free agent in the summer.
Whitely might be a help to mental stresses, as well.
He said their relationship extends beyond weight lifting and plyometrics.
“We talk three or four times per week, maybe,” Whitely said. “We always send each other scriptures and stuff, encouraging messages. And just make sure everything is cool. And if something is going on physically, then we send our recommendations on what to do and collaborate with the [Knicks] staff as well to make sure we’re all on the same page.”