Ranking Western Conference Teams Ahead of the 2025/26 Season (NBA)
The Western Conference enters the 2025/26 campaign brimming with talent and fresh storylines after another offseason of superstar movement. A young Oklahoma City team shocked the league by winning last year’s title, and this season promises to bring even more fireworks.
These rankings weigh recent results, roster changes, and expert analysis to bring together all 15 West teams heading into the new season.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City heads into 2025/26 as the West’s clear favourite after becoming the youngest NBA champions in nearly 50 years. Their remarkable season included a league-best defence, a dominant point differential, and a near 70-win pace. More importantly, they return virtually their entire rotation, giving them unmatched continuity and a roster that already knows how to win on the biggest stage.
MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to lead the way, flanked by rising stars Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, both recently extended to secure the core long term. With Alex Caruso and others providing depth, the Thunder made no major offseason changes, choosing instead to double down on youth, chemistry, and championship experience. They remain the team to beat in the West.
Houston Rockets
Houston’s rebuild accelerated faster than anyone expected, producing a strong regular season and a surprising No. 2 seed in the West. Rather than sit back, the front office swung for the biggest name available, acquiring Kevin Durant to solve their late-game scoring issues. In doing so, they parted with Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks but gained a great offensive weapon in return. Houston also added Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela for depth and defensive toughness around their new star.
With Durant leading the way and Alperen Şengün continuing to rise as a star player, the Rockets are set to make the leap from upstarts to true contenders. Their defence already ranks among the league’s best, and if the shooting around Durant holds up, they have every reason to believe it can stay near the top of the West.
Denver Nuggets
Denver enters 2025/26 still among the West’s elite, led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokić and co-star Jamal Murray. A 50-win season showed their offensive firepower remains intact, but defensive lapses and thin depth cost them against Oklahoma City in the playoffs. To address that, the Nuggets dealt Michael Porter Jr. for two-way forward Cameron Johnson and brought in Jonas Valančiūnas to stabilize the backup center spot. Those moves aim to address the issue of non-Jokić minutes, which have long hindered their efficiency.
With Aaron Gordon coming off his best shooting year and the core otherwise intact, Denver looks retooled rather than rebuilt. Johnson adds balance on the wing, Valančiūnas strengthens the rotation, and Jokić ensures they’ll contend as long as he’s healthy. If the defence rebounds even slightly, the Nuggets are well-placed to chase another deep run.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota won 49 games last season and reached the Western Conference Finals, with a point differential more in line with a 55-win team. Anthony Edwards, now 24, took another leap as a scorer, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert held down the frontcourt when healthy. The Wolves made no major offseason moves, instead leaning on continuity and Edwards’ continued growth to close the gap with the West’s top tier.
The one concern is backcourt depth. Mike Conley is 38 and unlikely to carry heavy minutes, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker departed in free agency. That leaves room for second‑year guard Rob Dillingham, whose creativity and speed around the court could provide a needed spark. Donte DiVincenzo was also added for stability, and if either guard steps up, Minnesota’s starting lineup has the support it needs. With Edwards rising and the defence intact, the Wolves look ready to contend.
LA Clippers
The Clippers enter 2025/26 with one of the NBA’s oldest rosters. Kawhi Leonard leads a core that now includes James Harden, Bradley Beal, and Chris Paul. Brook Lopez and John Collins were added to bring in a veteran-heavy rotation under head coach Tyronn Lue. Health and age are real concerns, but this group can still defend and rebound at a high level. Last season, they led the league in defensive rebounding percentage and ranked near the top in defensive rating.
The main question now is chemistry and durability. The Clippers have the talent, but often lean too much on isolation play. Lopez adds stability inside, and Paul helps manage Harden’s minutes. If the stars stay healthy and the rotation holds, they have the depth to contend. A sound projection for them would be to end up with around 50 wins, with this season seen as a final shot at a deep playoff run.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers signalled a new direction by trading for Luka Dončić, shifting focus as LeBron James enters the later stages of his career. The duo had early struggles, but with an offseason to build chemistry, expectations are high. LeBron has played more off the ball, while Dončić drives the offence. To support them, Los Angeles added Deandre Ayton for size and Marcus Smart for defence, with Austin Reaves returning as a key shooter and secondary playmaker.
How well the pieces fit over an 82-game season remains to be seen. The Lakers struggled after the Dončić trade, but Ayton and Smart should help ease some of the concerns. Offensively, avoiding second-half drop-offs is key. LeBron turns 41 in December, and his fitness will be critical. If he holds up and Luka stays at an MVP level, the Lakers are expected to win around 50 games and comfortably return to the playoffs.
Golden State Warriors
Golden State is trying to stay relevant as its dynasty years fade. Stephen Curry remains the focal point, still averaging over 30 points and carrying the offence. The midseason trade for Jimmy Butler was meant to lighten the load, and while Golden State went 22–5 with both in the lineup, the partnership is still a work in progress. To make matters worse, Kevon Looney left in free agency, and Jonathan Kuminga’s future is uncertain.
The primary concern now is whether Curry has enough help. Butler brings toughness, but he missed significant time, while Andrew Wiggins and Moses Moody need to be more reliable. Defence should hold up with Draymond Green and new additions, but scoring outside of Curry is a genuine concern. Most projections slot the Warriors in the high 40s, but no team will welcome facing a playoff-tested core.
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas enters 2025/26 in transition after trading Luka Dončić midseason. The Mavericks brought in Anthony Davis, who remains one of the league’s top two-way players when fit, and plan to feature him more in the paint. They also drafted Cooper Flagg at No. 1 after winning the lottery, added D’Angelo Russell to steady the backcourt, and still have Kyrie Irving, though he's rehabbing an ACL injury with a return expected in early 2026.
In the meantime, Dallas will lean on size and defence. Davis and Dereck Lively II give them interior presence, while Clingan showed promise late last season. Without Kyrie, scoring will fall to Russell, Josh Green, and Tim Hardaway Jr. The Mavericks closed last season strong defensively and could stay in the playoff pursuit. If Irving returns at full strength, they’re a threat capable of surprise as a lower seed.
San Antonio Spurs
After years of rebuilding, San Antonio looks ready to climb to the top. The Spurs jumped from 22 to 34 wins last season, and the pairing of Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox gives them clear movement. Wembanyama, the 2023/24 Rookie of the Year, became one of the league’s top defenders in his second year, while Fox brings needed speed and playmaking. Top 10 picks Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant are expected to contribute quickly, adding to a lineup that now combines talent with experience.
The key now is unlocking Wembanyama’s offence. He was more efficient near the rim, and Fox’s driving game should help create better looks. If Wemby adds reliable scoring to his defensive impact, San Antonio could take a big step forward. A playoff spot might be ambitious, but a push into the low-40s and the play-in mix looks more realistic.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis enters this campaign in transition on the back of a turbulent season. Once near the top of the West in March, they changed coaches late, as Taylor Jenkins was fired on March 28 and Tuomas Iisalo took over. They made the playoffs via the Play-In and were eliminated by OKC. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was brought in for defence and shooting, but losing Bane leaves a scoring void. Ja Morant returns from suspension looking to regain form, with Jaren Jackson Jr., a former Defensive Player of the Year, still covering the defence.
Memphis has been a 48-win team in three of the past four seasons, but with Bane gone, the offence now leans heavily on Ja Morant. Young wings like Ziaire Williams will need to take on bigger roles, while a new head coach brings a fresh perspective. The defence should remain strong if Jaren Jackson Jr. maintains his presence around the rim, but expectations have cooled. Most expect Memphis to be in the mid-40s in wins and back in the play-in mix as the team shifts focus to long-term development around the Morant-Jackson core.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland enters a new phase with fresh ownership, a younger roster, and Damian Lillard returning on a three-year deal, though he’ll miss the season rehabbing a torn Achilles. That shifts attention to the youth movement. Despite a 36-46 finish, the Blazers showed defensive growth late last year, and Chauncey Billups has the group buying in. Jrue Holiday adds experience and perimeter defence, helping guide young guards Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe. Deni Avdija is also expected to take on a bigger role.
The offensive question looms large without Lillard. Henderson takes the reins, with Sharpe developing as a scorer and Holiday able to adapt as needed. With a mix of youth and veterans, Portland can win around 35 games and land just outside the play-in.
For now, the focus is on building around Henderson, Sharpe, Avdija, and second-year big man Donovan Clingan while waiting on Lillard’s return in 2026.
Sacramento Kings
Sacramento changed course last season by trading De’Aaron Fox and building around a veteran trio: Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis.
The offensive talent is now evident, but the fit has been inconsistent. Mike Brown was replaced midseason, and Doug Christie led the team to a 27-24 finish, though the defence remained poor. With LaVine, DeRozan, and Sabonis, opponents found little opposition at the rim or on the perimeter. The only notable offseason move was adding Dennis Schröder, whose role remains uncertain.
The bigger issue now is direction. Once a young, up-and-coming group, Sacramento now leans on ageing stars with limited talent emerging. The offence should stay effective, but without defensive improvement, the ceiling is low.
Most expect the Kings to land just outside the playoff picture, caught between timelines. They seem too old to rebuild and not strong enough to contend.
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix has moved on from its short-lived superteam era and is now rebuilding around Devin Booker. After injuries and poor depth derailed the Durant-Beal experiment, both stars were moved this summer.
In return, the Suns added 23-year-old Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks from Houston, 21-year-old center Mark Williams from Charlotte, and rookie forward Khaman Maluach. New coach Jordan Ott takes over as Phoenix shifts toward a longer-term plan with Booker still in his prime after averaging nearly 30 points last season.
The team now has to see whether Booker and Green can thrive together without a true point guard. Both can create, but the Suns will need them to push the pace and attack more often.
Defensively, Brooks and Williams bring the needed toughness, and the roster has new life after years of chasing short-term solutions. Phoenix can expect to secure around 30 wins, with the season viewed as a foundation year. If Green emerges as a reliable partner for Booker, the Suns may already have the start of their next core.
New Orleans Pelicans
No team in the West fell harder last year than New Orleans, plummeting from 49 wins to just 21. Injuries were again a culprit, with Zion Williamson missing significant time, but even when he played, the Pelicans struggled to find cohesion.
The front office responded with a reset, trading CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk for Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey, while signing Kevon Looney to solidify the middle. Two 19‑year‑old rookies, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen, joined the roster as lottery picks in the 2025 draft.
Zion still remains an essential piece. At 25, he is still a dominant paint scorer when healthy, but his availability will define their ceiling. Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy provide support, though turnovers and inconsistency plagued the group last year. Willie Green remains the head coach of the Pelicans. A full return to contention seems unlikely immediately, but the Pelicans aim to stabilize, develop their young pieces, and set a clearer direction.
Utah Jazz
Utah’s rebuild hit a rough patch last year as they stumbled to 17 wins, finishing with the NBA’s worst defence. Veterans Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, and Collin Sexton are gone, replaced by younger talent and a few steady role players. The Jazz drafted Ace Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr. in the first round, acquired center Jusuf Nurkić via trade for Collin Sexton and a second-round pick, and added Kyle Anderson for experience. The frontcourt remains promising with Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, Taylor Hendricks, and Kyle Filipowski.
The backcourt is less settled. Keyonte George struggled with efficiency, and neither Isaiah Collier nor Walter Clayton Jr. has yet proven fully ready to run an NBA offence.
Without a clear lead guard, inconsistency may continue. Development will be the focus, with coach Will Hardy expected to give heavy minutes to the young players. For now, Utah projects to remain near the bottom of the West, but the long-term potential of its bigs offers a reason to watch.