# NBA Western Conference Tiers: Spurs and Thunder in Their Own Group

> Spurs and Thunder dominate Western Conference, with Lakers in a new-look group.
- Title: NBA Western Conference Tiers: Spurs and Thunder in Their Own…
- Summary: Spurs and Thunder dominate Western Conference, with Lakers in a new-look group. The NBA's Western Conference features the Spurs and Thunder as top teams…
- Keywords: nba, western conference, spurs, thunder, lakers, lebron james, jalen williams, chet holmgren, shai gilgeous-alexander, dylan harper, wembanyama, oklahoma city thunder
- Source: CBS Sports — https://cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-western-conference-tiers-spurs-thunder-lakers
- Published: 2026-10-16T13:14:11+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: nba, western conference, spurs, thunder, lakers, lebron james, jalen williams, chet holmgren, shai gilgeous-alexander, dylan harper, wembanyama, oklahoma city thunder
## Western Conference Tiers
The Western Conference has two elite teams at the top who are among the favorites to challenge for a championship.
## Tier 1: Heavyweights
Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are the top teams in the Western Conference.
## Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder won the title two years ago and are now battling the Spurs for the Western Conference.
## San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs reached the NBA Finals for the first time in nine years with Dylan Harper as a key player.
## Tier 2: Punchers' Chance
Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves are in the second tier of the Western Conference.
## Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have Nikola Jokic, who has shown time and time again that he makes everyone around him better.
## Houston Rockets
The Rockets lost Fred VanVleet to an ACL injury and are struggling to find a new point guard.
## Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves added LaMelo Ball and are taking a chance on a talented but flawed player.
## Tier 3: Playoffs by Default
The Los Angeles Lakers are likely to make the playoffs after signing Austin Reaves and overhauling their roster.
## Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers signed Austin Reaves to a four-year deal worth $184 million and acquired Walker Kessler.
## Tier 4: Desperate to Be in the Mix
Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, and Phoenix Suns are in the fourth tier of the Western Conference.
## Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers hired Micah Nori as the new coach and traded for Ja Morant.
## Golden State Warriors
The Warriors kept Steph Curry in Golden State with a discount deal worth $115 million over two years.
## Utah Jazz
The Jazz acquired Jaren Jackson Jr. from the Grizzlies and are ready to win now.
## Phoenix Suns
The Suns won 45 games without Kevin Durant and are working their way out of the play-in.
## Tier 5: Best of a Bad Bunch
Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies are in the fifth tier of the Western Conference.
## Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have Cooper Flagg as a rookie and Kyrie Irving back after an ACL injury.
## Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to Utah and have Cameron Boozer as their new rookie.
## Tier 6: Rest of a Bad Bunch
New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, and Sacramento Kings are in the sixth tier of the Western Conference.
## New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have Joe Dumars confused about changes to the front office.
## Key takeaway

The NBA's Western Conference features the Spurs and Thunder as top teams, with the Lakers rebuilding after LeBron's departure.