# 2020–21 New York Knicks season

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 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

2020 NBA draft picks :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/club |
| 1 | 8 | Obi Toppin | PF | United States | Dayton |
| 1 | 23 | Leandro Bolmaro | SF | Argentina | FC Barcelona |
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.

## Game log
### Preseason

The preseason schedule was announced on November 27, 2020.
2020 preseason game log Total: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1) :
Preseason: 3–1 (home: 2–0; road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 11
@ Detroit
W 90–84
Barrett (15)
Noel, Randle (8)
Payton (7)
Little Caesars Arena No in-person attendance
1–0
2
December 13
@ Detroit
L 91–99
Barrett (25)
Noel (10)
Randle (5)
Little Caesars Arena No in-person attendance
1–1
3
December 16
Cleveland
W 100–93
Randle (18)
Robinson (10)
Payton, Quickley (7)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
2–1
4
December 18
Cleveland
W 119–83
Quickley (22)
Robinson (12)
Randle (8)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
3–1 :
2020–21 preseason schedule :

### 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.
2020–21 game log Total: 41–31 (home: 25–11; road: 16–20) :
December: 2–3 (home: 1–1; road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
1
December 23
@ Indiana
L 107–121
Barrett (26)
Randle (9)
Randle (9)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse No in-person attendance
0–1
2
December 26
Philadelphia
L 89–109
Randle (25)
Robinson (9)
Barrett (4)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
0–2
3
December 27
Milwaukee
W 130–110
Randle (29)
Randle (14)
Payton, Randle (7)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
1–2
4
December 29
@ Cleveland
W 95–86
Randle (28)
Randle (12)
Randle (11)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 300
2–2
5
December 31
@ Toronto
L 83–100
Knox, Randle (16)
Randle (10)
Randle, Rivers (5)
Amalie Arena 3,449
2–3 :
January: 7–9 (home: 3–4; road: 4–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
6
January 2
@ Indiana
W 106–102
Barrett (25)
Randle (11)
Randle (8)
Bankers Life Fieldhouse No in-person attendance
3–3
7
January 4
@ Atlanta
W 113–108
Randle (28)
Randle (17)
Randle (9)
State Farm Arena No in-person attendance
4–3
8
January 6
Utah
W 112–100
Randle (30)
Randle (16)
Payton (8)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
5–3
9
January 8
Oklahoma City
L 89–101
Barrett (19)
Randle (12)
Randle (7)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
5–4
10
January 10
Denver
L 89–114
Randle (29)
Randle (10)
Payton, Randle (5)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
5–5
11
January 11
@ Charlotte
L 88–109
Knox (19)
Robinson (11)
Barrett, Randle (5)
Spectrum Center No in-person attendance
5–6
12
January 13
Brooklyn
L 109–116
Randle (30)
Robinson (12)
Randle (5)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
5–7
13
January 15
@ Cleveland
L 103–106
Randle (28)
Randle, Robinson (6)
Randle (6)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 1,944
5–8
14
January 17
@ Boston
W 105–75
Randle (20)
Randle (12)
Quickley (8)
TD Garden No in-person attendance
6–8
15
January 18
Orlando
W 91–84
Barrett (22)
Randle (17)
Barrett, Payton (4)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
7–8
16
January 21
@ Golden State
W 119–104
Barrett (28)
Randle (17)
Randle (9)
Chase Center No in-person attendance
8–8
17
January 22
@ Sacramento
L 94–103
Randle (26)
Randle (15)
Randle (4)
Golden 1 Center No in-person attendance
8–9
18
January 24
@ Portland
L 113–116
Quickley (31)
Noel (11)
Randle (5)
Moda Center No in-person attendance
8–10
19
January 26
@ Utah
L 94–108
Rivers (25)
Randle (10)
Barrett, Randle (4)
Vivint Arena 1,932
8–11
20
January 29
Cleveland
W 102–81
Quickley (25)
Randle (8)
Randle (6)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
9–11
21
January 31
L.A. Clippers
L 115–129
Randle (27)
Randle (12)
Randle (5)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
9–12 :
February: 9–5 (home: 6–2; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
22
February 1
@ Chicago
L 102–110
Randle (23)
Randle (11)
Quickley, Randle (7)
United Center No in-person attendance
9–13
23
February 3
@ Chicago
W 107–103
Randle (27)
Robinson (11)
Randle (6)
United Center No in-person attendance
10–13
24
February 6
Portland
W 110–99
Payton, Randle (22)
Randle (11)
Payton, Randle (4)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
11–13
25
February 7
Miami
L 103–109
Randle (26)
Randle (13)
Randle (7)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
11–14
26
February 9
@ Miami
L 96–98
Payton (18)
Randle (8)
Payton (4)
American Airlines Arena No in-person attendance
11–15
27
February 12
@ Washington
W 109–91
Randle (24)
Randle (18)
Rose (6)
Capital One Arena No in-person attendance
12–15
28
February 13
Houston
W 121–99
Quickley, Randle (22)
Randle (9)
Barrett (5)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
13–15
29
February 15
Atlanta
W 123–112
Randle (44)
Randle (9)
Quickley, Randle (5)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
14–15
30
February 17
@ Orlando
L 89–107
Randle (25)
Noel (9)
Payton (5)
Amway Center 4,249
14–16
February 20
San Antonio
Postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic; moved to May 13
Madison Square Garden
31
February 21
Minnesota
W 103–99
Randle (25)
Randle (14)
Payton (7)
Madison Square Garden No in-person attendance
15–16
32
February 23
Golden State
L 106–114
Randle (25)
Gibson (11)
Rose (8)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
15–17
33
February 25
Sacramento
W 140–121
Quickley (25)
Randle (14)
Rose (6)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
16–17
34
February 27
Indiana
W 110–107
Randle (28)
Randle (10)
Rose (11)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
17–17
35
February 28
@ Detroit
W 109–90
Randle (25)
Noel (11)
Randle (6)
Little Caesars Arena No in-person attendance
18–17 :
March: 6–7 (home: 4–2; road: 2–5)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
36
March 2
@ San Antonio
L 93–119
Quickley (26)
Noel (12)
Randle (5)
AT&T Center No in-person attendance
18–18
37
March 4
Detroit
W 114–104
Randle (27)
Randle (16)
Randle (7)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
19–18
38
March 11
@ Milwaukee
L 101–134
Barrett (22)
Randle (8)
Burks (8)
Fiserv Forum 1,800
19–19
39
March 13
@ Oklahoma City
W 119–97
Barrett (32)
Randle (12)
Randle (12)
Chesapeake Energy Arena No in-person attendance
20–19
40
March 15
@ Brooklyn
L 112–117
Randle (33)
Randle (12)
Randle (6)
Barclays Center 1,637
20–20
41
March 16
@ Philadelphia
L 96–99
Burks, Randle (19)
Randle (15)
Randle (8)
Wells Fargo Center 3,071
20–21
42
March 18
Orlando
W 94–93
Burks (21)
Burks, Randle (10)
Randle (17)
Madison Square Garden 1,531
21–21
43
March 21
Philadelphia
L 100–101 (OT)
Randle (24)
Noel (10)
Barrett, Burks (4)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
21–22
44
March 23
Washington
W 131–113
Randle (37)
Robinson (12)
Barrett (5)
Madison Square Garden 1,589
22–22
45
March 25
Washington
W 106–102
Burks (27)
Barrett (10)
Barrett (5)
Madison Square Garden 1,817
23–22
46
March 27
@ Milwaukee
W 102–96
Barrett, Burks (21)
Noel (11)
Barrett (7)
Fiserv Forum 3,280
24–22
47
March 29
Miami
L 88–98
Randle (22)
Noel (11)
Barrett (4)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
24–23
48
March 31
@ Minnesota
L 101–102
Randle (26)
Randle (12)
Randle (6)
Target Center No in-person attendance
24–24 :
April: 11–4 (home: 8–2; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
49
April 2
Dallas
L 86–99
Burks (20)
Randle (8)
Randle (11)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
24–25
50
April 3
@ Detroit
W 125–81
Randle (29)
Randle (8)
Payton (9)
Little Caesars Arena 750
25–25
51
April 5
@ Brooklyn
L 112–114
Barrett (22)
Randle (15)
Randle (12)
Barclays Center 1,773
25–26
52
April 7
@ Boston
L 99–101
Barrett (29)
Randle (9)
Randle (6)
TD Garden 2,298
25–27
53
April 9
Memphis
W 133–129 (OT)
Barrett, Quickley (20)
Randle (10)
Randle (11)
Madison Square Garden 1,912
26–27
54
April 11
Toronto
W 102–96
Randle (26)
Noel (13)
Barrett, Randle (5)
Madison Square Garden 1,833
27–27
55
April 12
L.A. Lakers
W 111–96
Randle (34)
Gibson, Randle (10)
Randle (4)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
28–27
56
April 14
@ New Orleans
W 116–106
Randle (32)
Gibson (10)
Randle (5)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
29–27
57
April 16
@ Dallas
W 117–109
Randle (44)
Noel, Randle (10)
Randle (7)
American Airlines Center 4,246
30–27
58
April 18
New Orleans
W 122–112 (OT)
Randle (33)
Gibson (14)
Randle (10)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
31–27
59
April 20
Charlotte
W 109–97
Barrett (24)
Noel (11)
Randle (7)
Madison Square Garden 1,753
32–27
60
April 21
Atlanta
W 137–127 (OT)
Randle (40)
Noel (12)
Randle (6)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
33–27
61
April 24
Toronto
W 120–103
Randle (31)
Barrett (12)
Rose (7)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
34–27
62
April 26
Phoenix
L 110–118
Rose (22)
Randle, Rose (6)
Rose (6)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
34–28
63
April 28
Chicago
W 113–94
Randle (34)
Noel (8)
Barrett, Rose (6)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
35–28 :
May: 6–3 (home: 3–0; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
64
May 2
@ Houston
W 122–97
Randle (31)
Barrett, Randle (7)
Randle (6)
Toyota Center 3,431
36–28
65
May 3
@ Memphis
W 118–104
Randle (28)
Gibson (12)
Randle (6)
FedExForum 2,789
37–28
66
May 5
@ Denver
L 97–113
Quickley (18)
Randle (8)
Randle (5)
Ball Arena 4,038
37–29
67
May 7
@ Phoenix
L 105–128
Randle (24)
Randle (11)
Rose (6)
Phoenix Suns Arena 8,063
37–30
68
May 9
@ L.A. Clippers
W 106–100
Rose (25)
Randle (14)
Rose (8)
Staples Center 2,578
38–30
69
May 11
@ L.A. Lakers
L 99–101 (OT)
Randle (31)
Randle (8)
Rose (6)
Staples Center 3,550
38–31
70
May 13
San Antonio
W 102–98
Burks (30)
Burks (10)
Randle (9)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
39–31
71
May 15
Charlotte
W 118–109 (OT)
Randle (33)
Noel (11)
Randle (13)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
40–31
72
May 16
Boston
W 96–92
Barrett (22)
Randle (7)
Randle (7)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
41–31 :
2020–21 season schedule :

### Playoffs

2021 playoff game log Total: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2) :
First round: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
May 23
Atlanta
L 105–107 (OT)
Burks (27)
Randle (12)
Rose (5)
Madison Square Garden 15,047
0–1
2
May 26
Atlanta
W 101–92
Rose (26)
Randle (12)
Randle, Rose (4)
Madison Square Garden 16,254
1–1
3
May 28
@ Atlanta
L 94–105
Rose (30)
Randle (11)
Rose (5)
State Farm Arena 15,743
1–2
4
May 30
@ Atlanta
L 96–113
Randle (23)
Randle (10)
Randle (7)
State Farm Arena 16,458
1–3
5
June 2
Atlanta
L 89–103
Randle (23)
Randle (13)
Barrett, Rose (5)
Madison Square Garden 16,512
1–4 :
2021 playoff schedule :

## Player statistics
### Regular season statistics

As of May 16, 2021
New York Knicks statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| RJ Barrett | 72 | 72 | 34.9 | .441 | .401 | .746 | 5.8 | 3.0 | .7 | .3 | 17.6 |
| Ignas Brazdeikis | 4 | 0 | 1.8 | .000 | — | 1.000 | .5 | .3 | .0 | .0 | .5 |
| Reggie Bullock | 65 | 64 | 30.0 | .442 | .410 | .909 | 3.4 | 1.5 | .8 | .2 | 10.9 |
| Alec Burks | 49 | 5 | 25.6 | .420 | .415 | .856 | 4.6 | 2.2 | .6 | .3 | 12.7 |
| Taj Gibson | 45 | 3 | 20.8 | .627 | .200 | .727 | 5.6 | .8 | .7 | 1.1 | 5.4 |
| Jared Harper | 8 | 0 | 2.0 | .000 | .000 | .750 | .3 | .1 | .0 | .0 | .4 |
| Kevin Knox II | 42 | 0 | 11.0 | .392 | .393 | .800 | 1.5 | .5 | .3 | .1 | 3.9 |
| Nerlens Noel | 64 | 41 | 24.2 | .614 | .000 | .714 | 6.4 | .7 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 5.1 |
| Frank Ntilikina | 33 | 4 | 9.8 | .367 | .479 | .444 | .9 | .6 | .5 | .1 | 2.7 |
| Elfrid Payton | 63 | 63 | 23.6 | .432 | .286 | .682 | 3.4 | 3.2 | .7 | .1 | 10.1 |
| Norvel Pelle | 9 | 0 | 5.8 | .714 | — | .500 | 1.2 | .1 | .1 | .7 | 1.2 |
| Theo Pinson | 17 | 0 | 2.0 | .111 | .000 | — | .3 | .1 | .0 | .0 | .1 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 64 | 3 | 19.4 | .395 | .389 | .891 | 2.1 | 2.0 | .5 | .2 | 11.4 |
| Julius Randle | 71 | 71 | 37.6 | .456 | .411 | .811 | 10.2 | 6.0 | .9 | .3 | 24.1 |
| Austin Rivers | 21 | 2 | 21.0 | .430 | .364 | .714 | 2.2 | 2.0 | .6 | .0 | 7.3 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 31 | 29 | 27.5 | .653 | — | .491 | 8.1 | .5 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 8.3 |
| Derrick Rose | 35 | 3 | 26.8 | .487 | .411 | .883 | 2.9 | 4.2 | .9 | .4 | 14.9 |
| Dennis Smith Jr. | 3 | 0 | 9.3 | .200 | .000 | .833 | .7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Obi Toppin | 62 | 0 | 11.0 | .498 | .306 | .731 | 2.2 | .5 | .3 | .2 | 4.1 |

### Playoff statistics

As of June 2, 2021
New York Knicks statistics :
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| RJ Barrett | 5 | 5 | 32.4 | .388 | .286 | .800 | 7.2 | 3.0 | .8 | .4 | 14.4 |
| Reggie Bullock | 5 | 5 | 32.4 | .385 | .345 | .800 | 3.4 | 1.2 | .6 | .2 | 8.8 |
| Alec Burks | 5 | 0 | 25.6 | .429 | .333 | .737 | 5.0 | 2.6 | .2 | .0 | 14.0 |
| Taj Gibson | 5 | 3 | 27.6 | .600 | — | 1.000 | 7.0 | .8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
| Kevin Knox II | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | — | — | 1.000 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .0 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| Nerlens Noel | 5 | 2 | 18.4 | .500 | — | .813 | 4.0 | .2 | .8 | .6 | 4.6 |
| Frank Ntilikina | 3 | 0 | 1.3 | .000 | .000 | — | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Elfrid Payton | 2 | 2 | 6.5 | .000 | — | .500 | .0 | .5 | .5 | .0 | .5 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 5 | 0 | 15.4 | .303 | .364 | .714 | 1.4 | 1.0 | .6 | .0 | 5.8 |
| Julius Randle | 5 | 5 | 36.0 | .298 | .333 | .852 | 11.6 | 4.0 | .6 | .0 | 18.0 |
| Derrick Rose | 5 | 3 | 35.0 | .476 | .471 | 1.000 | 4.0 | 5.0 | .4 | .2 | 19.4 |
| Obi Toppin | 5 | 0 | 13.0 | .522 | .333 | .833 | 2.6 | .4 | .0 | .2 | 6.4 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| November 18, 2020 | To New York KnicksDraft rights to Ante Tomić 2020 first round pick | To Utah Jazz2020 first round pick 2020 second round pick |
| November 20, 2020 | To New York KnicksDraft rights to Mathias Lessort Draft rights to Immanuel Quickley 2023 second round pick | To Oklahoma City ThunderJames Johnson Draft rights to Aleksej Pokuševski 2024 second round pick |
| To Minnesota TimberwolvesRicky Rubio Draft rights to Leandro Bolmaro Draft rights to Jaden McDaniels ||
| November 23, 2020 | To New York KnicksEd Davis Two future second rounds picks | To Utah JazzCash considerations |
| November 24, 2020 | To New York KnicksJacob Evans Omari Spellman 2026 second round pick | To Minnesota TimberwolvesEd Davis |
| November 27, 2020 | To New York KnicksAustin Rivers Draft rights to Tadija Dragićević Draft rights to Axel Hervelle Draft rights to Sergio Llull | To Houston RocketsDraft rights to Issuf Sanon |
| February 8, 2021 | To New York KnicksDerrick Rose | To Detroit PistonsDennis Smith Jr. 2021 second round pick |
| March 25, 2021 | To New York KnicksTerrance Ferguson Vincent Poirier Rights to Emir Preldžić 2021 second round pick 2024 protected second round pick | To Philadelphia 76ersIgnas Brazdeikis George Hill |
| To Oklahoma City ThunderAustin Rivers Tony Bradley 2025 second round pick 2026 second round pick ||