Western Conference Analysis: The Thunder reached the top, the Rockets strengthened their shortcomings, the Lakers attracted much attention, the Warriors fell into the playoffs

The 2025-26 season is slowly approaching, and it is too early for any serious playoff discussion. However, in a league known for its superstar roster changes, unexpected dark horses and playoff upsets, it’s clear that anything can happen from October to April.

In the highly competitive West, the ranking seems not to be constant. Last season, the seed ranks in the playoffs were not settled until the last day of the regular season. And this season, after some major operations, the most notable thing is Kevin Durant joining the Rockets, and we are expected to see another tense ranking battle.

Look at our NBA experts' predictions on the winning and losing record of 15 teams in the Western Conference.

Championship ranking

Thunder: 64 wins and 18 losses

Rockets: 54 wins and 28 losses

Nuggets: 53 wins and 29 losses

Timberwolves: 51 wins and 31 losses

Clippers: 50 wins and 32 losses

Lakers: 50 wins and 32 losses

Please get used to this sentence: The Thunder are undoubtedly the West's leader. Just become the youngest NBA championship team in nearly fifty years, the Thunder have a defending champion-level roster continuity as they retain the entire major rotation. Defending scoring champion, MVP and Finals MVP Shay Gilgers Alexander is in his early stages, and his star partners Jay Williams and Chet Homegren are also rising geniuses, who have just completed an early renewal. If the Thunder hit the 70-win milestone again, no one should be surprised. The Rockets were a dark horse from last season, soaring to the No. 2 seed in the West but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Rockets traded for future Hall of Fame member Kevin Durant, solving a clear loophole in the roster — the lack of a scorer at a critical moment, and the move did not hurt its prospects as a long-term competitor.

Nuggets have also met an obvious need for the team by strengthening the substitute lineup. They created salary flexibility to increase the depth of the lineup by sending Michael Porter Jr. and the 2032 first-round pick, which could be a potential upgrade at the small forward position. After forcing the Thunder into seven games in the Western Conference semi-finals, the Nuggets are determined to give three-time MVP Nikola Jokic a real chance to win the championship again. The Lakers can be said to be the most eye-catching team in the West because they are transitioning to the Luca Doncic era, while LeBron James, the team's scoring champion, is still on the team and is still attracting much attention.

Playoff rank

Warriors: 48 wins, 34 losses, 3}

Mavericks: 44 wins, 38 losses, 3}

Spurs: 44 wins, 38 losses, 3}

Grizzlies: 42 wins, 40 losses, 52}

The Western Conference has many competitors, so that there are always several teams that will inevitably be squeezed into this range and are forced to play one or two more games to determine their playoff fate. This is especially dangerous for aging teams like the Warriors and Mavericks, who are likely to sprint to the rankings in the final month of the season and are unable to get the extra week of rest before the playoffs that top teams enjoy.

Looking back on last season, there was a precedent for the team to stand out from the play-offs: in April, the No. 7 seed Warriors defeated the No. 2 seed Rockets in the first round. If Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green remain healthy, the West's first two seeds won't be happy to see the Warriors appear in seventh or eighth next spring.

If Kyrie Irving can return in time from his ACL tear, the same situation applies to the Mavericks. When the regular season ends, it will be 13 months before he gets injured.

The other two teams in this range - the Spurs and the Grizzlies - seem to be moving in different directions. The Spurs are entering their third season of patient reconstruction around Victor Vinbanyama. In the first two seasons, the Spurs won 22 games and 34 games respectively. This season, we expect them to make a bigger leap, with the number of wins entering the 40-game range. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies traded one of their core players (Desmond Bain) this summer in exchange for a draft pick, a move that could mean the team is preparing to take a step back.

Five last place

Trail Blazers: 39 wins, 43 losses

Kings: 37 wins, 45 losses

Suns: 30 wins, 52 losses

Pelicans: 26 wins, 56 losses

Jazz: 19 wins, 63 losses

Trail Blazers are about to welcome new bosses, Damian Lillard returns, and Yang Hansen is an interesting rookie for a team that is striving to show competitiveness. Although head coach Chauncey Billups will lead his team to compete with new player Ju Holiday, the Trail Blazers' future seems brighter as they look to the future after this season. The West has become stronger and Lillard is reimbursed for the season. The Trail Blazers have young talents like Deni Avdia and Shetton Sharp, as well as rookies who need to be trained such as Donovan Klingen. But if the Trail Blazers want to compete for a playoff or playoff spot, they will need Scutter Henderson to fulfill their potential as a 2023 Tetra Show.

Sacramento will usher in the first full season of new coach Doug Christie, who will try to fully utilize the strength of Zach Lavender, Domantas Sabonis and Demar DeRozan with Dennis Schroeder as point guard.

With Kevin Durant joining the Rockets and Bradley Bill signing the Clippers, the Suns have begun to rebuild around Devin Booker and a large number of inside players.

The Pelicans brought in Jordan Poole and Jeremiah Fells, and Zion Williamson was still in the team.. But can Williamson stay healthy?

The Jazz are at the end of the list, and their never-ending reconstruction continues with the addition of new aid Ace Bailey, but the Jazz seems destined to be at the bottom of the West again.

source:7m c