The Denver Nuggets are the favorites to win the Western Conference in 2025.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are the top contender to challenge the Nuggets.
Last year's Western Conference Champions were the Dallas Mavericks.
With the 2024 Western Conference Champion named, all eyes shift to the upcoming 2025 Western Conference Championship race! At WSN, we delve into the ongoing Western Conference battle, offering the latest odds, predictions, and insightful analyses in the race to become NBA Champion!
For the best NBA Futures bets, WSN has you covered with betting picks and tips every day throughout the 2024-25 NBA season and playoffs! New sports bettors can use the top NBA sportsbook promo codes and bonuses before their favorite team tips off!
With the NBA offseason in full effect, the race for the Western Conference crown is already on. Despite falling in the second round, the Denver Nuggets are the early favorites to win the West. Following closely behind are the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder. While last season’s NBA Finals runner-up, the Dallas Mavericks, round out the top contenders.
Let's check out the bets!
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. Head to FanDuel to place your bets on the NBA Western Conference Champion: Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets. Check out our list of the best NBA betting sites for more betting opportunities.
Team | Odds |
---|---|
Denver Nuggets | +380 BET HERE |
Minnesota Timberwolves | +450 BET HERE |
Oklahoma City Thunder | +460 BET HERE |
Dallas Mavericks | +490 BET HERE |
Phoenix Suns | +1200 BET HERE |
LA Clippers | +2000 BET HERE |
Golden State Warriors | +2000 BET HERE |
Memphis Grizzlies | +2000 BET HERE |
Los Angeles Lakers | +2000 BET HERE |
Sacramento Kings | +2800 BET HERE |
New Orleans Pelicans | +2800 BET HERE |
Houston Rockets | +7000 BET HERE |
San Antonio Spurs | +7000 BET HERE |
Utah Jazz | +30000 BET HERE |
Portland Trail Blazers | +30000 BET HERE |
For almost two decades now, the Western Conference has been one of the most unpredictable competitions in sports. Owning some of the country’s most attractive markets, the favorite to win the West could change with a single transaction. The Oklahoma City Thunder have proven to be the most impressive upcoming team in the West. With a year of experience under their belt and the cap space to improve, they’ll be a force in the West next season.
Bet on OKC Thunder (+460) at FanDuel
Make the most of your sports betting experience with a special welcome offer from FanDuel Sportsbook and the team at WSN! Join FanDuel Sportsbook today to explore varied betting markets and exciting NBA Futures. If you're new to betting, take advantage of this unique offer before the NBA Western Conference Champion is named!
New users at FanDuel Sportsbook can receive $200 in bonus bets with a $5 wager! No promo code is needed. Sign up at FanDuel Sportsbook, place a minimum $5 wager on your chosen market, and enjoy $200 in Bonus Bets if your first bet wins! Bonus Bets will expire after seven days, are not cashable, and must be wagered at least once.
There’s a special promotion for bettors in Massachusetts or Ohio: Your $5 bet can earn you $300 in bonuses if your wager wins!
If you have questions or require further insights, check out our expert review of FanDuel Sportsbook!
Year | Record | Finish | Off Rtg | Def Rtg | Pace | PPG | Opp PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023-24 | 57-25 | 2nd in NBA Western Conference | 118.5 (5th of 30) | 113.0 (8th of 30) | 96.8 (27th of 30) | 114.9 (14th of 30) | 109.6 (6th of 30) |
Head Coach: Michael Malone
Key Players: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.
2024 NBA Playoffs:
West Second Round: MIN def. DEN 4-3
The 2023 NBA Champions failed their championship defense, but they still had a commendable season. After starting the season poorly, the Denver Nuggets showed their quality by rallying back and earning the second seed in the Western Conference. Injuries plagued them through the regular and postseason, but they showed flashes of their championship form despite their playoff disappointments.
The bright spot of the Denver Nuggets' season was the play of Nikola Jokic. After averaging 26.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists, Jokic won his career's third Most Valuable Player award. Supporting Jokic as always was Jamal Murray, who, despite playing just 59 regular season games, put up 21.2 points, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 threes per game. While role players like Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon were critical to their success, Denver's bench struggled to meet the standard of their championship season.
The Nuggets are in a precarious position going into the NBA offseason. With $190 million committed to their current roster, the Nuggets will be limited in the free agency and trade market. They'll either have to sacrifice one of their key pieces in the name of depth or add productive players on minimum contracts to remain competitive in the West.
Bet on Nuggets (+380) at FanDuel
Year | Record | Finish | Off Rtg | Def Rtg | Pace | PPG | Opp PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023-24 | 56-26 | 3rd in NBA Western Conference | 115.6 (16th of 30) | 109.0 (1st of 30) | 97.1 (24th of 30) | 113.0 (18th of 30) | 106.5 (1st of 30) |
Head Coach: Chris Finch
Key Players: Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Karl-Anthony Towns
2024 NBA Playoffs:
West Finals: DAL def. MIN 4-1
The Minnesota Timberwolves made no significant changes last season, yet they made a massive jump in terms of performance. With young Anthony Edwards leading the way, the Timberwolves dominated the regular season en route to the third seed in the West. Minnesota won the league’s top defense and became a title contender by reaching the Western Conference Finals.
Anthony Edwards was the star of the season for the Timberwolves, averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists as he earned his second All-Star appearance. Supporting him were the frontcourt duo of Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, who combined to solidify Minnesota’s attack from three and their defense at the rim. But standing out most among the role players was Naz Reid, who went on to win Sixth Man of the Year with his standout performances off the bench.
The Timberwolves made the proper progress last season, as their current payroll suggests a prohibitive offseason in acquisitions. They are above the luxury tax, and thus, they’ll only be able to rely upon a reduced Mid-Level Exception. Expect them to aggressively add players on minimum salaries, who expect the Timberwolves to be contenders next year.
Bet on Timberwolves (+450) at FanDuel
Year | Record | Finish | Off Rtg | Def Rtg | Pace | PPG | Opp PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023-24 | 57-25 | 1st in NBA Western Conference | 119.5 (3rd of 30) | 112.1 (4th of 30) | 99.8 (8th of 30) | 120.1 (3rd of 30) | 112.7 (11th of 30) |
Head Coach: Mark Daigneault
Key Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren
2024 NBA Playoffs:
West Second Round: DAL def. OKC 4-2
The Oklahoma City Thunder proved their 2022-23 season was no fluke by improving throughout the 2023-24 NBA campaign. In what many thought would be another building season, the Thunder vaulted up the standings and won the first seed in the Western Conference through the regular season. Despite their youth and inexperience, their talent and coaching made them one of the league's most exciting teams.
The Oklahoma City Thunder's leader was Canadian point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. After a bronze medal-winning summer at the FIBA World Cup, Gilgeous-Alexander finished second in NBA MVP voting after averaging 30.1 points, 6.2 assists, and 5.5 rebounds. However, the surprising growth and performance of young players like Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren supported their success.
The Thunder have made one of the first big moves of the summer, trading Josh Giddey for experienced wing Alex Caruso. The acquisition of Caruso will bolster Oklahoma City's defense, but they have a unique amount of flexibility to improve their roster further. With an MVP-level leader and a cast of rising stars, the Thunder project to enter the next season as one of the league's top teams.
Bet on Thunder (+460) at FanDuel
Year | Record | Finish | Off Rtg | Def Rtg | Pace | PPG | Opp PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023-24 | 50-32 | 5th in NBA Western Conference | 117.6 (10th of 30) | 115.4 (18th of 30) | 100.1 (6th of 30) | 117.9 (7th of 30) | 115.6 (20th of 30) |
Head Coach: Jason Kidd
Key Players: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington
2024 NBA Playoffs:
NBA Finals: BOS def. DAL 4-1
The Dallas Mavericks are coming off a spectacular season. After rallying to win 50 games through the regular season, the Mavericks surprised everyone in the NBA Playoffs. Overcoming the odds in every Western Conference matchup, the Mavericks reached the NBA Finals to eventually fall short of their ultimate goal against the Boston Celtics.
Luka Doncic starred for the Dallas Mavericks throughout the regular season. Averaging 33.9 points, 9.8 assists, and 9.2 rebounds on 48.7% from the field, Doncic finished third in MVP voting this past year. However, Kyrie Irving helped the Mavericks push on this season, averaging 25.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. It must also be noted that late-season acquisitions PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford were central to Dallas’ unprecedented success this season.
The Dallas Mavericks have an exciting summer ahead of them. Derrick Jones Jr. will be hitting free agency, and they have $169 million in guaranteed contracts. While the state of their roster isn’t entirely prohibitive for improving it, the Mavericks may need to make tough decisions if they hope to remain in championship contention.
Responsible Gambling
If you or someone you know needs support or wants to speak with a professional about responsible gambling, seek out the correct resources. Call 1-800-GAMBLER to get help, or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. WSN is an advocate for safe gambling practices. Visit our Responsible Gambling Center for more details.
We support responsible gambling. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. If you need help, call 1-800-Gambler.
WSN.com is managed by Gentoo Media. Unless declared otherwise, all of the visible content on this site, such as texts and images, including the brand name and logo, belongs to Innovation Labs Limited (a Gentoo Media company) - Company Registration Number C44130, VAT ID: MT18874732, @GIG Beach Triq id-Dragunara, St. Julians, STJ3148, Malta.
Advertising Disclosure: WSN.com contains links to partner websites. When a visitor to our website clicks on one of these links and makes a purchase at a partner site, World Sports Network is paid a commission.
Copyright © 2024