The 2020–21 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I season.

The Bruins were led by second-year head coach Mick Cronin and played their home games at Pauley Pavilion as members of the Pac-12 Conference.

[1] Prior to the season, five-star recruit Daishen Nix decommitted from his letter of intent with UCLA to sign instead with the NBA G League.

[11][12] However, the Bruins added freshman forward Mac Etienne, who only enrolled in January after his prep season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They lost the regular season finale 64–63 to USC, who made a game-winning three-point field goal with 1.4 seconds left in the game.

[14] In their tourney opener in the quarterfinals, they lost 83–79 in overtime to Oregon State after leading by as many as 16 in the first half and holding a 10-point advantage at halftime.

[23] In the Final Four, UCLA faced the top-ranked team in the country in Gonzaga, who were seeking to become the first undefeated national champion since Indiana in 1976.

[28] The Bruins lost 93–90 in overtime after the Bulldogs' Jalen Suggs made a 40-foot (12 m) three-point bank shot as time expired.

Cronin was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year, while junior Chris Smith earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors and was voted the Pac-12 Most Improved Player.