When the 2024 Summer Olympics came around, it was clear the United States was building their basketball team around three iconic names—LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant. These legends were the main focus, so much so that even reigning NBA Champion & 5-time All-Star Jayson Tatum was pushed to the side in a highly controversial call by Head Coach Steve Kerr.
For many, the Olympics felt like the last shot for these guys to win something big together, and they capped it off with the Netflix documentary “Court of Gold,” celebrating their triumph.
At the time, things weren’t looking great for any of them at their respective NBA teams. Steph Curry and the Warriors seemed past their prime—he even admitted he wouldn’t want the team to chase quick success at the expense of their future. Kevin Durant’s Phoenix Suns just weren’t good enough, with breakup rumors swirling around them. And LeBron James’ Lakers? They couldn’t seem to get past the Denver Nuggets come playoff time.
The Western Conference had a new power structure, led by the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Mavericks, and Thunder. As far as most people were concerned, LeBron, Steph, and KD were yesterday’s news.
Or so we thought.
Just before last month’s trade deadline, a whirlwind of deals shook things up—but two trades, in particular, flipped the Western Conference on its head.
Let’s break down these moves and what they mean for the top contenders out West.
Luka Dončić’s Bizarre Trade Makes Lakers Top Contenders
In what has to be the most baffling trade in NBA history—maybe even all of American sports—the Dallas Mavericks, fresh off an NBA Finals appearance, sent Luka Dončić to the Lakers for Anthony Davis. Trying to make sense of this is like figuring out why the letter "K" exists in knife—it just doesn’t add up.
Luka was the reigning scoring champ who had carried the Mavs to the Finals barely six months earlier. Sure, there were whispers about his conditioning, but come on—we’re talking about a basketball savant who hasn’t even hit his prime. For those less familiar with the NBA, imagine Real Madrid trading Kylian Mbappé for an aging, injury-prone Virgil Van Dijk—right after Mbappé led them to a Champions League final. Sounds ridiculous, right? Exactly.
While the rest of the basketball world is still scratching their heads over the Mavericks giving up a generational talent for what feels like a mediocre return, LeBron James and the Lakers have hit the ground running and the numbers show that. LeBron is currently sidelined with an injury and is expected to be out for a week or two, but in the 12 games he’s played alongside Luka, the Lakers have gone 9-3. During that stretch, they’ve climbed from the 6th seed to 3rd.
Defensively, Luka is a clear downgrade from Anthony Davis - we all know that - but somehow, the Lakers now rank 4th in Defensive Rating in the 12 games the Slovenian has played in—a testament to the stellar coaching job by JJ Redick. Turns out when you pair two of the brightest minds in the history of basketball in Luka and LeBron, they’ll figure it out. One thing’s certain: no one’s eager to face them come playoff time, and one of my betting tips is for them to win the Pacific Division.
Jimmy Butler Joins Forces With Steph Curry
For most of the first half of the season, the Warriors looked like a play-in team at best. Buddy Hield’s summer arrival barely made a ripple, and the mid-season addition of Dennis Schröder might’ve actually made things worse. Even their last-ditch effort to bring Kevin Durant back to the Bay fell flat after the two-time finals MVP turned them down.
Then, like a gift from the basketball gods, Jimmy Butler fell right into their laps. After a successful time at Miami, where he led the Heat to two NBA Finals, Butler’s relationship with team president Pat Riley completely imploded. There were trade requests, million-dollar fines, and drama worthy of an elite Big Brother Nigeria season before he finally got shipped out.
Since he landed in San Francisco, the Warriors have looked like a team reborn.
Draymond Green was so hyped during the All-Star break he flat-out guaranteed they’d win the championship—a challenge Steph Curry gladly accepted. And so far? They’re backing it up. After a 130-120 win over the Blazers, the Warriors are 13-2 since Butler’s debut on February 8—and 12-1 when he plays.
And here’s the scary part: no team wants to see Curry and Butler in a close game. The Warriors have been in 38 clutch games this season (final five minutes within five points), the second most in the league behind the Timberwolves (39). This plays to their strength as they have Jimmy & Steph - two of the most clutch players on the planet; one a mid-range god and the other, a 3-point god.
When Draymond called his shot about winning it all, we all laughed. But now? Nobody’s laughing. They’ve made six finals and won four. Who’s to say they can’t make it five in seven? And if you’re feeling bold like Draymond, BetKing’s got the best odds to ride that wave. And, if you’re looking for how to make money online daily, just keep an eye out for them when they play as they seem to be unstoppable at the moment.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & The Young Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder might be the youngest team in the league—with an average age of 24.15—but that hasn’t stopped them from handing out beatdowns. Last season, they finished as the best regular-season team in the West, but their lack of playoff experience showed when Luka Dončić and the Mavericks sent them packing. This year, though? They look hungrier and meaner.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leading the charge, and not only is he the front-runner for MVP, but he’s also the league’s top scorer, averaging 32.7 points per game. OKC currently sits atop the Western Conference, and there’s a massive gap between them and everyone else.
Their secret weapon? Depth—something GM Sam Presti has masterfully put together. While SGA grabs the headlines, guys like Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Lu Dort are quietly playing at elite levels. And they didn’t stop there—over the summer, they added Isaiah Hartenstein to bolster their frontcourt and brought in Alex Caruso, a defensive ace who was crucial to the Lakers' Bubble championship run.
The numbers back up their dominance. OKC leads the league in Defensive Rating (106.1), Net Rating (12.4), and has the 4th-best Offensive Rating (118.5). And for a team this young, their ball security is ridiculous—their Turnover Ratio of 11.7% is the best in the league.
Sure, the Celtics are the betting favorites because they’ve been there and done that—but if we’re being honest, OKC should lead that conversation.
3-Time MVP Nikola Jokić + The Nuggets
The Nuggets are a bit of an enigma. Just months after winning their first-ever NBA Championship in 2023, GM Calvin Booth gave an interview where he basically said they weren’t obsessed with chasing back-to-back titles like the Cavs and Warriors once did. Instead, they’re focused on building something sustainable over the long haul. I get that, but why not strike when the iron is hot? You may have the best player on the planet, but tomorrow isn’t promised.
Nikola Jokić has won 3 of the last 4 MVPs and is firmly in the race for a 4th in 5 years. As incredible as he’s been, though, this might be his best season yet—he’s averaging a triple-double and currently ranks top 3 in points, rebounds, and assists. If he finishes the season holding those spots, he’ll be the first player in NBA history to pull off that trifecta.
So, why isn’t Denver the favorite to win it all? Why does BetKing have them as the 5th-best favorites to win? Simple—there are big question marks around Jokić’s supporting cast. Jamal Murray is elite when healthy, but injuries have hampered his rhythm. Aaron Gordon has missed a chunk of the season (playing just 38 of 65 games), and outside of improved three-point shooting, his stats are the worst they’ve been in four years. Michael Porter Jr. and Russell Westbrook are giving their all, but let’s be honest—it’s hard to trust their consistency when Murray and Gordon aren’t at 100%.
Still, despite these issues, Denver sits second in a loaded Western Conference—that’s how brilliant Jokić is. Every time he steps on a basketball court, he’s the best player out there, and that always gives them a puncher’s chance. Just ask Lakers fans.
- Bet on the Nuggets to Win The Championship @15.00
- Bet on The Western Conference To Produce The 2025 NBA Champion @1.77
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