The 2020–21 New York Knicks season was the 75th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On July 30, 2020, the Knicks hired Tom Thibodeau as their new head coach.
Fan attendance in home games was prohibited until February 23, 2021, per an executive order from then-Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo. The Knicks reopened Madison Square Garden to spectators on February 23.
On May 3, with a 118–104 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Knicks clinched their first winning season since the 2012–13 season, and on May 12, clinched their first playoff appearance since the 2013, ending their eight-year playoff drought.
The Knicks faced the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs, losing in five games.
After the regular season, Julius Randle was named NBA Most Improved Player, while head coach Tom Thibodeau was named the NBA Coach of the Year, becoming the first Knicks head coach since Pat Riley in 1992–93 to receive the award.
Draft
The Knicks entered the draft holding two first round picks and one second round pick. The first round pick (no. 27) was acquired on February 6, 2020, in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. The second round pick was acquired on February 7, 2018, in a trade with the Charlotte Hornets. Before the draft the Knicks traded their 27th and 38th overall picks to the Utah Jazz in exchange for draft rights to Ante Tomić and 23rd overall pick. The Knicks used their eighth overall pick to select Obi Toppin, and then selected Leandro Bolmaro with the 23rd overall pick, who was then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Roster
Standings
Division
Conference
Game log
Preseason
The preseason schedule was announced on November 27, 2020.
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 | December 11 | @ Detroit | | Barrett (15) | Noel, Randle (8) | Payton (7) | Little Caesars ArenaNo in-person attendance | 1–0 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 | December 13 | @ Detroit | | Barrett (25) | Noel (10) | Randle (5) | Little Caesars ArenaNo in-person attendance | 1–1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 | December 16 | Cleveland | | Randle (18) | Robinson (10) | Payton, Quickley (7) | Madison Square GardenNo in-person attendance | 2–1 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 | December 18 | Cleveland | | Quickley (22) | Robinson (12) | Randle (8) | Madison Square GardenNo in-person attendance | 3–1
Regular season
The schedule for the first half of the season was released on December 4, 2020, while the schedule for the second half was released on February 24, 2021.
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 1 | December 23 | @ Indiana | | Barrett (26) | Randle (9) | Randle (9) | Bankers Life FieldhouseNo in-person attendance | 0–1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 | December 26 | Philadelphia | | Randle (25) | Robinson (9) | Barrett (4) | Madison Square GardenNo in-person attendance | 0–2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 3 | December 27 | Milwaukee | | Randle (29) | Randle (14) | Payton, Randle (7) | Madison Square GardenNo in-person attendance | 1–2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 4 | December 29 | @ Cleveland | | Randle (28) | Randle (12) | Randle (11) | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse300 | 2–2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 5 | December 31 | @ Toronto | | Knox, Randle (16) | Randle (10) | Randle, Rivers (5) | Amalie Arena3,449 | 2–3