NBA Western Conference Winner Predictions, Odds & Best Bets 2025: Rising Teams Aim to Upset the Balance

• The Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorites to win the Western Conference.

• The Minnesota Timberwolves are the top contender to challenge the Nuggets.

• Last year's Western Conference Champions were the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The 2024-25 NBA season is just under a month away, and the odds table for the Western Conference is more intriguing than ever! Last year's top finishers already command the board, but some rising teams aim to upset the balance in the West. At WSN, we're locked in on the race for the 2025 NBA Western Conference Winner, offering the latest odds, predictions, and analyses for the 2024-25 NBA season!

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After earning the first seed in the West last season, the Oklahoma City Thunder are the favorite to win the conference in 2025. The top contenders to the Thunder are the Minnesota Timberwolves, who battled it out with them throughout last season to fall short by just one game. Last year’s Western Conference Champions, the Dallas Mavericks, are also in contention, while the Denver Nuggets remain a fan favorite to challenge for the conference title.

Let's check out the bets!

2024 NBA Western Conference Odds

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NBA Western Conference Winner - My Pick

• My Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder to Win Western Conference (+330)

Early signs point to the Oklahoma City Thunder taking home the Western Conference crown. They’ve made positive changes this summer, and a year of experience behind one of the league’s youngest and most successful squads will only help their growth. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is expected to be in the MVP running again this season, and with his leadership and the development of young stars like Williams and Holmgren, the sky’s the limit for the young Thunder.

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Who Is the Favorite to Win the Western Conference in 2025?

Oklahoma City Thunder (+330) at FanDuel

Head Coach: Mark Daigneault

Key Players: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren

Key Additions: Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein

Key Losses: Josh Giddey, Bismack Biyombo, Gordon Hayward

2024 NBA Playoffs: 

• West Second Round: DAL def. OKC 4-2

The three-way deadlock in the Western Conference was intense, and ultimately, the upstart Oklahoma City Thunder came away with the first seed upon the regular season’s conclusion. Led by MVP runner-up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the young Thunder outperformed expectations and took a commanding position for the postseason. However, when the NBA Playoffs arrived, the Thunder’s inexperience was their undoing.

Thunder executive Sam Presti has been known for his ability to hoard high-value future assets. Still, he made aggressive moves this offseason to improve the Thunder’s chances at an NBA Championship. By moving promising point forward Josh Giddey, the Thunder were able to bring in another All-Defense worthy talent in Alex Caruso while also acquiring bruising Knicks big man Isaiah Hartenstein into the squad.

It was a tight race for the first seed last season, and Oklahoma City has made the most progressive steps in the conference at claiming the position in 2025. Their heavy reliance on Gilgeous-Alexander backfired in the postseason, so they’ll still need their young pieces to improve their production. Despite any concerns about the Thunder roster, their outlook is the most promising in the West.

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Who Are the Contenders to Win the Western Conference in 2025?

Minnesota Timberwolves (+420) at FanDuel

Head Coach: Chris Finch

Key Players: Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle

Key Additions: Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, Rob Dillingham

Key Losses: Karl-Anthony Towns, Kyle Anderson, Monte Morris

2024 NBA Playoffs: 

• West Finals: DAL def. MIN 4-1

The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the league’s biggest surprises last season. Despite coming into the season with a relatively unchanged roster, Minnesota improved their record by 14 wins to earn the third seed in the Western Conference. Despite overcoming the reigning NBA Champions in the Second Round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs, the Timberwolves ultimately fell short in the West Finals to the eventual Conference Champion Dallas Mavericks.

Many expected the Timberwolves to stand pat, mostly this offseason, with a significant salary dedicated to their star trio of Edwards, Towns, and Gobert. Instead, Minnesota made the shock move of the summer by shipping out their homegrown, four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns in favor of Donte DiVincenzo and the oft-injured Julius Randle. While the two-for-one deal certainly addresses their depth issues, many still need to be convinced of the move.

After their most successful season in a decade, the Minnesota Timberwolves have many scratching their heads. They’re still a strong team on paper, but uprooting the core of their success is risky. Much of their potential lies upon the shoulders of the exciting Anthony Edwards, who many expect will need to reach the next phase in his career to keep the Timberwolves relevant.

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Dallas Mavericks (+500) at FanDuel

Head Coach: Jason Kidd

Key Players: Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson

Key Additions: Klay Thompson, Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes

Key Losses: Derrick Jones, Tim Hardaway Jr., Josh Green

2024 NBA Playoffs: 

• NBA Finals: BOS def. DAL 4-1

The 2024 NBA Western Conference Champions will put in their bid for the crown once again in 2025. After a surprise run that saw them reach the NBA Finals, some re-tooling by the Mavericks front office sees them with even more firepower in support of rising superstar Luka Doncic. While few expected a finals run from the Mavericks, their postseason success has many believing any Doncic-led side has a chance at the NBA title!

The Mavericks' alternating years of success and disappointment have made them unpredictable. After failing their most recent chance of winning another NBA title, Dallas used the offseason to find offensive support for their star man, Doncic. Headlined by Klay Thompson, an offseason recruiting class including Spencer Dinwiddie and Quentin Grimes Mavericks has fans optimistic. Still, losing three key rotation players from an NBA Finals run is always a risky sacrifice for improvement.

Central to Dallas' bid for the 2025 Western Conference Championship is Luka Doncic. After finishing third in voting for Most Valuable Player in 2024, many expect him to claim the award in 2025. A one-man team at times, another Western Conference crown is a real possibility if Doncic can maintain his stellar form with the support of his new high-powered squad.

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Denver Nuggets (+500) at FanDuel

Head Coach: Michael Malone

Key Players: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr.

Key Additions: Russell Westbrook, Dario Saric

Key Losses: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Reggie Jackson

2024 NBA Playoffs: 

• West Second Round: MIN def. DEN 4-3

The 2023 NBA Champions didn't have an ideal title defense for the 2023-24 NBA season. Key players suffered injuries throughout the campaign, so they had to lean on Nikola Jokic's third MVP-winning performance to keep them afloat. When the team regained their health, they were right back in contention for the first seed in the West despite eventual defeat in the Second Round.

Handcuffed by a massive salary investment in their core four of Jokic, Murray, Porter Jr., and Gordon, the Nuggets have only been able to make some minor improvements to the squad. Dario Saric will provide some frontcourt depth, while Russell Westbrook brings his intensity and physicality to the Nuggets backcourt. However, Denver will rely upon the growth of their young players to fill the void left by their departures.

It's been repeatedly proven that the Denver Nuggets are a well-drilled team that can hang with any opponent. Add Nikola Jokic's MVP-worthy contributions, and they're title contenders. This season, the Nuggets are shallower than ever, so many are wary of another sustained run for the top of the West without significant reinforcements.

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