The 2020–21 Summit League men's basketball season began with practices in October 2020, followed by the start of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November.

Conference play began in January 2021 and will conclude in March 2021.

The conference both gained and lost a member after the 2019–20 season.

Purdue Fort Wayne left for the Horizon League[1] and was replaced by Kansas City, which returned to the Summit after a seven-year absence spent in the Western Athletic Conference.

[2] Preseason awards were announced by the league office on October 26, 2020.