The West's New Order: A Bloodbath of Modern Starting Fives
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While power shifts toward the East, the Western Conference is evolving into a volatile landscape where young cores and blockbuster acquisitions are dismantling the old guard.
The NBA's center of gravity is shifting. As first reported by Sportsnet, the seat of power currently resides in the East, marked by the New York Knicks' championship and LeBron James moving to South Philly. Yet, to view the Western Conference as diminished is a mistake. Instead, the West has transformed into a high-stakes bloodbath where traditional structures are being replaced by a new breed of starting fives.
In my view, we are witnessing a total dismantling of the old hierarchy. The conference is now defined by two looming dynasties: the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. San Antonio, coming off an NBA Finals appearance, has aggressively accelerated its timeline. By pairing 2024-25 rookie of the year Stephon Castle and breakout guard Dylan Harper with the potential future face of the league, Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have built a powerhouse in just three years. Sportsnet notes that San Antonio further bolstered this unit by signing forward Tobias Harris to a two-year, $31 million free-agent deal to provide veteran stability and defensive presence. Their current starting five—De’Aaron Fox, Castle, Devin Vassell, Harris, and Wembanyama—represents a modern blueprint of draft success and surgical additions.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder continue to lean on the efficiency of reigning two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. According to Sportsnet, Gilgeous-Alexander entered his age-28 season after averaging 31.1 points per game last year, shooting an effective field-goal percentage of 59.7%. While OKC moved on from wing Luguentz Dort, the team is betting that a rotation of combo guards including Cason Wallace, Ajay Mitchell, and Jared McCain can fill that void. With All-NBA wing Jalen Williams expected to return to full strength after an injury-plagued season where he played only 33 games, the Thunder's unit of Gilgeous-Alexander, Wallace, Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein remains a terrifying force.
Beyond these two giants, the West is defined by volatility and blockbuster gambles. The Minnesota Timberwolves have positioned themselves as a boom-or-bust squad. To support the ascent of Anthony Edwards—who posted career-highs in scoring (28.8 PPG) and efficiency last season—Minnesota acquired LaMelo Ball from Charlotte in a trade that sent out Julius Randle and Naz Reid. This new-look starting five, featuring Ball, Edwards, Ayo Dosunmu, Jaden McDaniels, and Rudy Gobert, aims to solve the lack of a secondary star that hampered them last year.
Then there are the Houston Rockets, a team attempting to calibrate a roster featuring Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun. After struggling with a lack of point guard play last season, the Rockets are welcoming back Fred VanVleet, who is returning from a torn ACL. By pairing VanVleet with Amen Thompson, Durant, Jabari Smith Jr., and Sengun, Houston hopes to steer an offense that often left its stars to their own devices. Despite the offensive struggles, Sportsnet reports the Rockets' defense remains elite, having finished last season with the sixth-best defensive rating in the league (113.2).
The West isn't just deep; it's a collision course of emerging superstars and desperate veterans, proving that while the East may hold the trophy, the West remains the most dangerous place to play.