We’re officially three weeks from the beginning of the NBA Season and training camp’s right around the corner. Most teams have begun their media days and most players are now back in the facility and working with their respective teams. The off-season flew by and with so much happening, it’s time time to review what’s changed and preview this year’s Western Conference.
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Last Year’s Divisional Winners
Northwest Division — Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City finished the year with the top overall record in the regular season, winning their division, the Western Conference and the NBA Championship. The Thunder finished the year with an 18-game lead on the Denver Nuggets for the Northwest Division and had the league’s best defense.
Pacific Division — Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers finished the year in the top three of the Western Conference and made the biggest splash of 2025 at the trade deadline. The Luka Donćić acquisition is something we’re going to talk about for years to come and it’s also what helped the Lakers win the Pacific Division last year. They finished tied with the Clippers with 50-wins, but due to their head to head record; it was the Lakers that finished as top dog in the Pacific.
Southwest Division — Houston Rockets
The divisional winner no one saw coming, the Houston Rockets. Houston won 52 games last year, finished second in the conference and only got better during the offseason. The Rockets missed the postseason in 2024 but managed to win their division in 2025. They’ve shown tremendous development and it’s how they surprised everyone last year and took home the Southwest Division.
2025/2026 NBA Western Conference – Northwest Division
Northwest Division Odds | BetOnline
- Oklahoma City Thunder (-425)
- Denver Nuggets (+400)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (+1000)
- Portland Trailblazers (+20000)
- Utah Jazz (+50000)
Who Got Better?
You can’t exactly say the Thunder got any better, but they’re looking to be just as good as they were last year. The Thunder signed Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a max contract extension, making him the highest paid player ever, in the NBA. Not only did they lock in Shai, but locked down his two young teammates Jaylen Williams and Chet Holmgren to rookie scale max extensions. This roster doesn’t look like it’s changing anytime soon and it’s why the Thunder still sit at (-425) to win the division.
On the other side, the Denver Nuggets got significantly better. Not only did they bring back former Nugget, Bruce Brown; but they flipped Michael Porter Jr. for Cam Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets. Johnson brings size, shooting and defensive prowess to a Nuggets team that was desperate for scoring options last year.
Who’s Winning the Division?
With the Thunder bringing back virtually their entire roster, it’s tough for me to say anyone but Oklahoma City wins this division. The value at -425 is non-existent but the line’s indicative of how good this Thunder squad was last year. Oklahoma City ranked 4th in points per game, 3rd in points allowed per game, 1st in steals, 7th in field goal percentage and won a majority of their games by double digits.
Denver at (+400) does look like the obvious value choice, but even with the big additions they made in the offseason; the Thunder still look like the better team. The Thunder went 12-4 against the division last year and lost just one game to the Eastern Conference. Oklahoma City looks poised to repeat as divisional champs and maybe even NBA Champs.
2025/2026 NBA Western Conference – Pacific Division
Pacific Division Odds | BetOnline
- Los Angeles Lakers (+140)
- Los Angeles Clippers (+150)
- Golden States Warriors (+300)
- Sacremento Kings (+3300)
- Phoenix Suns (+7500)
Who Got Better?
The Pacific Division was full of big changes this year so let’s just kick it off with the Lakers. Outside of the Luka addition mid-season, the Lakers made significant additions during the offseason. Deandre Ayton is now in purple and gold, with Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia also set to make their Laker debut later this month. Los Angeles needed a center, they went and got one; they needed defense and perimeter shooting, went out and got both. Now the question is can they put it all together on the court?
The other Los Angeles team wasn’t going to be outdone, making some significant additions of their own in the summer. Taking a minute to ignore this Kawhi Leonard story, the Clippers might compete if this roster manages to play a majority of their games together. You’ve got Kawhi, James Harden, Ivaca Zubac and now you’ve added names like Bradley Beal, Chris Paul and Brook Lopez. Older guys, but guys that have shown the ability to win games.
Speaking of older guys, let’s take a second and talk about the Warriors. Golden State comes into this season with a 37 year old Stephen Curry, 36 year old Jimmy Butler, 35 year old Draymond Green and 39 year old Al Horford. On paper this team looks like it could compete, despite having one of the oldest rosters in the league.
Who’s Winning the Division?
This division very much feels like the Lakers’ to lose. The Lakeshow have two of the top five players in the NBA and had an offseason where they did everything they could to add depth to this roster. Head Coach JJ Reddick helped the Lakers to 50-wins in his first year and should look to build on that in his second year. Taking a short trip to Inglewood, we’ve got the Clippers at (+150). The Clippers are a team with loads of talent but with so many different pieces I’m left wondering if they’ll end fitting together in the end.
Bradley Beal’s coming off a terrible stint with the Phoenix Suns and missed a ton of games while he was in the desert. Kawhi Leonard’s missed countless games over the last few years and Chris Paul’s going to be 41 before the season finishes, will they make it to the finish line in one piece? Taking a quick look at the past and you can see why I don’t have faith in the Clippers taking the Pacific.
Lastly, I love the value on the Warriors at (+300). This Warriors team looks to me like, if healthy, can win 50-games. Steph Curry’s coming into this year with something to prove and Jimmy Butler’s hungry for that first NBA Title. Injuries derailed their season last year but if they can just stay healthy in 2025, I love their chances to win the division.
2025/2026 NBA Western Conference – Southwest Division
Southwest Division Odds | BetOnline
- Houston Rockets (+225)
- San Antonio Spurs (+425)
- Dallas Mavericks (+750)
- Memphis Grizzlies (+1000)
- New Orleans Pelicans (+8000)
Who Got Better?
We’ve got to start with the Dallas Mavericks and the addition of Cooper Flagg. Flagg was drafted with the #1 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft and now joins a roster that includes Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. The Duke product will likely see a significant role early in the year and he’ll have the ability to carve out a bigger offensive role with Kyrie still rehabbing his ACL. The Mavericks also extended both Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington to help bolster the front court and brought in D’Angelo Russell to help at point guard during Irving’s absence.
The Rockets won this division last year and will now enter the 2025/26 season without two of their starters from last year. The Rockets traded away Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in the offseason, bringing in two time champion; Kevin Durant. Durant joins a Rockets roster that was starved for isolation scoring last year.
The Rockets were a team that were at their best when everyone contributed, but they lacked a go to scorer; someone you can turn to late in games when you NEED a bucket. Durant not only fills that role, but he’s probably the best isolation scorer in the history of the game.
Let’s wrap up by talking about Victor Wembanyama and how he spent his offseason collecting Infinity Stones. Jokes aside, Webanyama now enters his third year in the NBA, last year being cut short due DVTs in the area of his right shoulder. Despite the scare, Wembanyama will be ready to go for the season opener and looks to use what he learned during the summer to help the Spurs win some gams. De’Aaron Fox won’t be ready to go for the start of the year and it’s why I’m a little weary on this San Antonio squad.
Who’s Winning the Division?
Houston is the team that makes the most sense here. You win the division then trade your two worst starters for a 26.0 points per game isolation scorer, that’s also a proud member of the 50/40/90 club. Durant’s 37-years old but as recently as last season, KD averaged 26.6 PPG and did it while shooting 53/43/84. Now he joins a Houston team that’s already loaded with talent. Alpren Sengun looked fantastic during EuroBasket and Amen Thompson remains one of the most athletics/explosive young guards in the NBA.
Outside of Houston, I’m looking at value on the Dallas Mavericks at (+750). The lineup is tough with Kyrie sidelined for a majority of, if not the entire year. Despite that, this roster does still have Anthony Davis and when he’s healthy, he’s a top eight player in the NBA. Add to that Cooper Flagg, one of the most exciting young prospects we’ve seen come into the league. If this team’s competing and Kyrie’s able to make a return, don’t be surprised if they’re competing for top dog in the Southwest.
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