The 2020-21 New York Knicks season marked a significant turnaround for the franchise, which had struggled in recent years. Under the leadership of first-year head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Knicks finished the regular season with a 41-31 record, securing the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. This marked their first playoff appearance since the 2012-13 season, a significant achievement for a team that had been rebuilding.
Key to the Knicks’ success was the breakout performance of forward Julius Randle, who was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career and earned the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. Randle averaged 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game, leading the team in all three categories. His leadership on and off the court was instrumental in the team’s improved performance.
The Knicks also saw significant contributions from other players, including RJ Barrett, who made strides in his second season, averaging 17.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. The addition of veteran guard Derrick Rose, acquired mid-season, provided a spark off the bench and valuable playoff experience.
In the playoffs, the Knicks faced the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Despite a strong start to the series, New York was eliminated in five games. Nevertheless, the season was widely viewed as a success, laying a foundation for future growth and re-establishing the Knicks as a competitive team in the NBA. The 2020-21 season marked a new chapter for the franchise, with optimism surrounding its future prospects.
- Regular Season Record: 41-31
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-4
New York Knicks Roster and Stats for 2020-21 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Julius Randle | 71 | 24.1 | 10.2 | 6.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 41.1 | 5 | 18.0 | 11.6 | 4.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| RJ Barrett | 72 | 17.6 | 5.8 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 40.1 | 5 | 14.4 | 7.2 | 3.0 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 28.6 |
| Derrick Rose | 35 | 14.9 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 41.1 | 5 | 19.4 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 47.1 |
| Alec Burks | 49 | 12.7 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 41.5 | 5 | 14.0 | 5.0 | 2.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 64 | 11.4 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 38.9 | 5 | 5.8 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 36.4 |
| Reggie Bullock | 65 | 10.9 | 3.4 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 41.0 | 5 | 8.8 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 34.5 |
| Elfrid Payton | 63 | 10.1 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 28.6 | 2 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 31 | 8.3 | 8.1 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Austin Rivers | 21 | 7.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 36.4 | |||||||
| Taj Gibson | 45 | 5.4 | 5.6 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 20.0 | 5 | 5.0 | 7.0 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Nerlens Noel | 64 | 5.1 | 6.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Obi Toppin | 62 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 30.6 | 5 | 6.4 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 33.3 |
| Kevin Knox | 42 | 3.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 39.3 | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Dennis Smith Jr. | 3 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Frank Ntilikina | 33 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 47.9 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Norvel Pelle | 9 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Ignas Brazdeikis | 4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Jared Harper | 8 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
| Theo Pinson | 17 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |||||||
New York Knicks in the 2021 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the New York Knicks made their first postseason appearance since 2013, facing the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Despite a strong season led by Julius Randle and a passionate fan base, the Knicks struggled to contain Trae Young and were eliminated in five games. The series highlighted the Knicks' need for more offensive firepower to complement their solid defensive play.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2021 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 107-105 | |
| May 26, 2021 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 101-92 | |
| May 28, 2021 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 105-94 | |
| May 30, 2021 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 113-96 | |
| Jun 02, 2021 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 103-89 |
New York Knicks 2020-21 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2020-21 season for the New York Knicks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 2020 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 121-107 | |
| Dec 26, 2020 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-89 | |
| Dec 27, 2020 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 130-110 | |
| Dec 29, 2020 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 95-86 | |
| Dec 31, 2020 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 100-83 | |
| Jan 02, 2021 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 106-102 | |
| Jan 04, 2021 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 113-108 | |
| Jan 06, 2021 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 112-100 | |
| Jan 08, 2021 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | L 101-89 | |
| Jan 10, 2021 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 114-89 | |
| Jan 11, 2021 | @ Charlotte Hornets | L 109-88 | |
| Jan 13, 2021 | vs. Brooklyn Nets | L 116-109 | |
| Jan 15, 2021 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 106-103 | |
| Jan 17, 2021 | @ Boston Celtics | W 105-75 | |
| Jan 18, 2021 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 91-84 | |
| Jan 21, 2021 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 119-104 | |
| Jan 22, 2021 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 103-94 | |
| Jan 24, 2021 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 116-113 | |
| Jan 26, 2021 | @ Utah Jazz | L 108-94 | |
| Jan 29, 2021 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-81 | |
| Jan 31, 2021 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 129-115 | |
| Feb 01, 2021 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 110-102 | |
| Feb 03, 2021 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 107-103 | |
| Feb 06, 2021 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-99 | |
| Feb 07, 2021 | vs. Miami Heat | L 109-103 | |
| Feb 09, 2021 | @ Miami Heat | L 98-96 | |
| Feb 12, 2021 | @ Washington Wizards | W 109-91 | |
| Feb 13, 2021 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 121-99 | |
| Feb 15, 2021 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 123-112 | |
| Feb 17, 2021 | @ Orlando Magic | L 107-89 | |
| Feb 21, 2021 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | W 103-99 | |
| Feb 23, 2021 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 114-106 | |
| Feb 25, 2021 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 140-121 | |
| Feb 27, 2021 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 110-107 | |
| Feb 28, 2021 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 109-90 | |
| Mar 02, 2021 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-93 | |
| Mar 04, 2021 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 114-104 | |
| Mar 11, 2021 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 134-101 | |
| Mar 13, 2021 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | W 119-97 | |
| Mar 15, 2021 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 117-112 | |
| Mar 16, 2021 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-96 | |
| Mar 18, 2021 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 94-93 | |
| Mar 21, 2021 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 101-100 | |
| Mar 23, 2021 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 131-113 | |
| Mar 25, 2021 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 106-102 | |
| Mar 27, 2021 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-96 | |
| Mar 29, 2021 | vs. Miami Heat | L 98-88 | |
| Mar 31, 2021 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | L 102-101 | |
| Apr 02, 2021 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 99-86 | |
| Apr 03, 2021 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 125-81 | |
| Apr 05, 2021 | @ Brooklyn Nets | L 114-112 | |
| Apr 07, 2021 | @ Boston Celtics | L 101-99 | |
| Apr 09, 2021 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 133-129 | |
| Apr 11, 2021 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 102-96 | |
| Apr 12, 2021 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 111-96 | |
| Apr 14, 2021 | @ New Orleans Pelicans | W 116-106 | |
| Apr 16, 2021 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 117-109 | |
| Apr 18, 2021 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | W 122-112 | |
| Apr 20, 2021 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 109-97 | |
| Apr 21, 2021 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 137-127 | |
| Apr 24, 2021 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 120-103 | |
| Apr 26, 2021 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 118-110 | |
| Apr 28, 2021 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 113-94 | |
| May 02, 2021 | @ Houston Rockets | W 122-97 | |
| May 03, 2021 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 118-104 | |
| May 05, 2021 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 113-97 | |
| May 07, 2021 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 128-105 | |
| May 09, 2021 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 106-100 | |
| May 11, 2021 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 101-99 | |
| May 13, 2021 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 102-98 | |
| May 15, 2021 | vs. Charlotte Hornets | W 118-109 | |
| May 16, 2021 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 96-92 |