With spooky season fully underway, the falling leaves remind us that the NBA season is just around the corner. Opening Night 2024 is slated for Oct. 22 as the reigning champions — the Boston Celtics — host the revamped New York Knicks. 

The competition in the NBA is as intense as ever, with more than 20 teams believing that they have the ability to make noise in the playoffs. However, only 16 will actually make the playoffs, and by June, Commissioner Adam Silver will crown just one champion. 

With that being said, here are my Western Conference standings predictions for the 2024-25 NBA season.

Bronny James joins his father on a Lakers squad that will have to fight for a playoff birth (Anthony Huang | Student Life)

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (2023-24 Record: 57-25 ~ First Place)

This past season, the Thunder surpassed all expectations by climbing from the 10th seed in 2023 to the first in 2024. Once the playoff started, however, their glaring issues like secondary playmaking and rebounding shone through as they fell to the eventual West Champions, the Dallas Mavericks. General Manager Sam Presti and company fixed those holes in the offseason by trading for Alex Caruso and signing Isaiah Hartenstein. With a superstar in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and expected jumps from star forwards Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, the Thunder have the ingredients to be the team to beat in the West.

2. Minnesota Timberwolves (2023-24 Record: 56-26 ~ Third Place)

Just a few weeks ago, the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks for Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo. These two former Knicks join a team led by All-NBA guard Anthony Edwards and the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY), Rudy Gobert. Similarly to the Thunder, the Wolves shocked the NBA world by improving from the eighth seed to the third seed and defeating the 2023 champs — the Denver Nuggets — in the second round. With major additions to the squad, including Top 10 selection Rob Dillingham, the Wolves should be right back at the top. 

3. Dallas Mavericks (2023-24 Record: 50-32 ~ Fifth Place)

After reaching the NBA finals last season, the Mavericks come into this season with heavier expectations. After a full offseason to build chemistry with key trade deadline acquisitions Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington, and adding free agent sharpshooter Klay Thompson, Luka Doncic and company have high potential to run it back. Speaking of Doncic, the five-time First-Team All-NBA player is primed to win his first MVP. He has the talent, and with the best roster he’s ever played with in his career, Luka Magic is my prediction to win the league’s Most Valuable Player award. Kyrie Irving also brings elite scoring and will help Doncic create the most offensively dynamic guard duo in the league. 

4. New Orleans Pelicans (2023-24 Record: 49-33 ~ Eighth Place)

While the Pelicans being this high might surprise many, New Orleans sneakily has the talent and depth to be one of the strongest teams in the West this season. Led by star Zion Williamson, the Pelicans have a very strong core. Veterans C.J. McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and Herbert Jones and newly acquired Dejounte Murray round out the starting lineup, and quality role players Daniel Theis and Trey Murphy, along with rookie Yves Missi, provide versatility off the bench. The Pelicans have built a squad that works around Zion, and he has all the talent to reward their efforts with a strong regular season. 

5. Memphis Grizzlies (2023-24 Record: 27-55 ~ 13th Place)

Finally, Ja Morant is fully back in Memphis. After a season headlined by suspensions and injuries, the star guard is ready to bring the Grizzlies back to the top of the conference. In the 2022-23 season, the Grizzlies were only two games behind the first seed in the West. Led by Morant, the former DPOY Jaren Jackson Jr., and sharpshooter Desmond Bane, the Grizzlies’ roster is filled with tons of youth that gained plenty of experience last year. GG Jackson II, Vince Williams Jr., and Scotty Pippen Jr. are ready to be key contributors. Add in the heart of the roster, Marcus Smart, and hyped rookie big-man, Zach Edey, and Memphis is looking to compete in 2025.

6. Denver Nuggets (2023-24 Record: 57-25 ~ Second Place)

Is this the end of the Nuggets as we know it? Since winning the 2022 title, the Nuggets have lost key contributors each offseason, leaving their current bench depleted. Denver will have to rely on an aging Russell Westbrook and young wings, Christian Braun, Julian Strawther, and Peyton Watson, who have struggled to match the shooting of the departed Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. However, they do still have their big four and are led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Be prepared for Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Aaron Gordon to play heavier minutes this season than ever to keep the roster afloat. This core is all locked into hefty long-term deals, which could keep leading the former champs into an even deeper hole.

7. Phoenix Suns (2023-24 Record: 49-33 ~ Sixth Place)

The Phoenix Suns top the next tier of Western Conference teams that have incredible talent but also have key glaring holes that limit their ceilings. The Suns had two Olympians this summer — Kevin Durant and Devin Booker — who starred as the USA brought home gold. Add in former All-Star Bradley Beal, veteran center Jusuf Nurkic, and newly acquired Tyus Jones, and the Suns possess one of the league’s most potent offenses. However, their bench is severely depleted of serious talent. Other than Grayson Allen, who had a career season last year as a starter, there are no players coming off of the Suns’ bench that would get any significant minutes on any of the six teams ahead of them. This bench sank the Suns’ ship last season, but I trust their stars to overpower those issues. 

8. Los Angeles Lakers (2023-24 Record: 47-35 ~ Seventh Place) 

Like Phoenix, the Lakers boast two Top 10 players who both excelled for Team USA this past summer at the Paris Olympics. Also like Phoenix, the Lakers’ bench has the makeup of a G-League roster. Sure, that might be a bit harsh, but throughout the last season, former head coach Darvin Ham struggled to find a solid rotation outside of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reeves. Newly hired first-time coach JJ Redick will be tasked with working to build the strongest bench rotation with Max Christie, Cam Reddish, and Jaxon Hayes as guys like Jarred Vanderbilt (coming off injury) and Dalton Knecht (rookie) ease their way into the lineup. Even though this team does have its fair share of issues, there’s no denying the top-end talent. 

9. Sacramento Kings (2023-24 Record: 46-36 ~ Ninth Place)

No team felt the effects on a stacked Western Conference more than the Kings. After being the third seed in 2023 with 48 wins, Sacramento lit the beam 46 times in 2024. This time around, the Kings found themselves watching the playoffs from the couch. However, with the addition of All-Star wing DeMar Derozan to the core of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray, the Kings have a starting lineup comparable to the very best in the league. Sacramento does lack bench depth outside of star sixth-man Malik Monk, and I predict that this limits their ceiling for this year. 

10. Houston Rockets (2023-24 Record: 41-41 ~ 11th Place)

Watch out Western Conference, the Rockets are coming. After hiring star head coach Ime Udoka last offseason, Houston won 20 more games and was knocking at the final play-in spot. This team has a perfect blend of young talent and veteran leadership. Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, and Jabari Smith Jr. headline their young core, but recent draft picks Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard come in with All-Star potential. These youngsters are led by veterans Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Steven Adams, and Jeff Green who all have extensive playoff experience. I absolutely love what they are building in Houston, and in a season or two, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are a top seed in the conference. 

11. Golden State Warriors (2023-24 Record: 46-36 ~ 10th Place)

After two offseasons of immense change in San Francisco, the Warriors dynasty seems to be on its final legs. The Warriors lost longtime star Klay Thompson but did replace him with strong role players in Buddy Hield and De’Anthony Melton. However, this roster doesn’t have the firepower that we’re accustomed to seeing in Golden State. In order for the Warriors to be successful, there will need to be significant jumps from Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, and former All-Star Andrew Wiggins will need to come back to form. Though, with Stephen Curry leading the way, anything is possible.

12. Los Angeles Clippers (2023-24 Record: 51-31 ~ Fourth Place)

Out of any team in the league, the Los Angeles Clippers might have the worst future ahead of them. This past offseason, they lost Paul George, overpaid to retain James Harden, and dealt with another Kawhi Leonard knee procedure. With Kawhi expected to miss extended time to start the season, the Clippers will start the Intuit Dome era slowly. This team does have some solid players surrounding Harden and Kawhi, like Terance Mann, Norman Powell, and Ivica Zubac, however, there isn’t much to be optimistic about. The Clippers don’t own a draft pick until 2030 (which is absurd), so there isn’t an incentive for this team to be bad. Expect owner Steve Balmer to roll out aging lineups in hopes of scratching the playoffs. 

13. San Antonio Spurs (2023-24 Record: 22-60 ~ 14th Place)

Victor Wembenyama is going to be so good this year. After one of the best rookie seasons in NBA history, Victor has the ability to be an All-NBA player this season. The Spurs brought in solid veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes to join their young core of Wembenyama, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan. These additions, along with fourth overall pick Stephon Castle, will help San Antonio be significantly better defensively and provide stability offensively. The Spurs will be one of the more improved teams this season and could potentially fight for the play-in, but they still seem to be a season or two away. 

14. Utah Jazz (2023-24 Record: 31-51 ~ 12th Place)

For the Jazz, this offseason was filled with rumors concerning their All-Star forward, Lauri Markkanen, but after a contract extension, Markkanen can’t be traded until the 2025 offseason. With that being said, the Jazz are still in a selling mindset with pieces that could intrigue a contending team (Jordan Clarkson, Colin Sexton, and John Collins). After flirting with the play-in last season, the Jazz should focus on developing their younger talent. With three first-round picks in one of the stronger drafts in recent history, the Jazz could be setting up for a long future of success. 

15. Portland Trail Blazers (2023-24 Record: 21-61 ~ 15th Place) 

After finishing this past season with the worst record in the West, they will again likely finish with the conference’s worst record in 2025. Portland does boast a couple of intriguing prospects like last draft’s second overall pick Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and rookie Donovan Clingan, but the rest of the roster is bad. Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons will lead this team, but I wouldn’t be surprised if either of them aren’t on the roster come the trade deadline in February. The Trail Blazers will be one of the teams in the thick of the race for the likely No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg the entire season. 

Western Conference Champion Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder