New York Knicks: Top 5 Highest Paid Players | 2020-21 NBA Season

The New York Knicks made some smart moves this offseason, which will let them keep their options open for the stacked 2021 NBA Free Agency class. The Knicks roster largely consists of players on rookie deals and veteran minimums. In this article, we take a look at their top 5 highest-earning players ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season.

New York Knicks: Top 5 Highest earners | 2020-21 NBA Season

The New York Knicks will be eyeing a playoff berth in the upcoming NBA season and will rely on their stars to accomplish that objective. Their key players are also the highest earners. Let's take a look at the 5 top -paid players from New York Knicks.

#5 Dennis Smith Jr.

Boston Celtics v New York Knicks

Athletic point guard Dennis Smith Jr. will have to fight for a place in the New York Knicks backcourt, as the team have a plethora of options at these positions. However, there is a high possibility that Dennis Smith Jr. will be starting alongside RJ Barrett in the backcourt. After all, the New York Knicks rewarded Smith Jr. with a big contract when he signed for the franchise. Smith Jr. is the fifth highest-paid player in the New York Knicks squad and will be earning a base salary of $5,686,677 in the 2020-21 NBA season.

Dennis Smith Jr is spending this off-season working to improve his jumper with Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.I watched a workout, and Abdul-Rauf went into extreme detail on what he noticed in Smith’s shot that needed to be changed. https://t.co/Nk268btI2l

— Kristian Winfield 👑 (@Krisplashed) November 24, 2020

#4 Alec Burks

Dallas Mavericks v Golden State Warriors

A dynamic scorer and playmaker, Alec Burks was signed to a one-year deal by the New York Knicks this offseason. The move was an attempt to balance the roster with a veteran presence. Burks was signed to a contract that will see him earn a base salary of $6 million, which makes him the fourth highest-paid player in the New York Knicks team. Alec Burks has had successful stints with the Philadelphia 76ers and Dallas Mavericks in recent years. The New York Knicks will hope he can replicate those performances, as they look to make a push for the playoffs.

Alec Burks' debut as a Knick🔥7 pts, 1 ast, 4 reb(📷via: @nyknicks) pic.twitter.com/eVXsKdRqKY

— NBA Fantasy News (@NBAFantasyNews1) December 12, 2020

#3 Frank Ntikilina

New York Knicks v Washington Wizards

Despite being picked at the 8th spot in the 2017 NBA Draft and showing a lot of promise in college, Frank Ntilikina's career simply hasn't picked up. He had a poor season for the New York Knicks in 2019-20, as he averaged just 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Frank Ntilikina is the third highest-paid player for the New York Knicks, who signed him for a contract that ensures that he will earn a $6,176,578 base salary in the 2020-21 NBA season. There is a likelihood he will be moved in the coming months, with the New York Knicks hoping to reduce the size of their roster.

#2 RJ Barrett

New York Knicks v Washington Wizards

RJ Barrett is a highly-touted youngster and a star in the making. The Canadian was given the responsibility of carrying the New York Knicks offensively in his debut season. Unfortunately, the third overall pick wasn't able to shoulder that kind of burden.

However, with more capable players around him this season, Barrett will be expected to make a leap and will aim to make the All-Star team. He is still on his rookie deal, which means he will be earning a base salary of $8,231,760 which makes him the second-highest earner on the New York Knicks roster.

#1 Julius Randle

Chicago Bulls v New York Knicks

The enigmatic Julius Randle has been a volume scorer for the New York Knicks, averaging 19.5 points and 9.7 rebounds per game last season. With two years left on his deal, which is worth around $20 million annual salary, Randle is a significant hit on the Knicks' wage bill.

Randle is the highest-earning player on the New York Knicks and will be earning a base salary of $18,900,000 in the 2020-21 NBA season. The power forward is arguably the New York Knicks' best player. Thanks to the large contract, Randle being the highest earner doesn't come as a surprise.