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Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and Anthony Edwards averaged 28.2 and 27.6 points per game, respectively, last season.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Download the NBA App<\/a> It may be unfair, and it may be unusual. Still, it is certainly undeniable: most of the very best players make their home and enhance their reputations in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n The conference is swollen with award winners, statistical leaders, recent champions, certified future Hall of Famers and all-time greats. Here\u2019s the stat: 13 of the last 16 Kia MVP trophies<\/a> have gone to players currently on Western Conference teams.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, the West is home to those equipped to flex in the future \u2014 Victor Wembanyama \u2014 and those who are still managing to stretch their flex well into the current generation. That would be LeBron James, Stephen Curry, James Harden and a few others are nearing two decades of service.<\/p>\n All of this makes for a tricky and tough task when it comes to player rankings. Those who don\u2019t cut probably can state their case for inclusion \u2026 that\u2019s how deep the density of great players is in the West.<\/p>\n With all due respect to Harden of the LA Clippers, Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies and the Phoenix Suns\u2019 Devin Booker, here are the 10 best Western Conference players heading into next season:<\/p>\n Nikola Joki\u0107, Denver Nuggets<\/p>\n Not only is he the best player in basketball, but he\u2019s having one of the all-time runs in basketball history. Since 2021, Joki\u0107 has won three MVPs<\/a> and finished runner-up in the two years he didn\u2019t win. And there\u2019s an argument to be made, even by him, that his runner-up 2024-25 was his best season yet. Therefore, with that gusty wind at his back, there\u2019s no question Joki\u0107 remains in his prime and, therefore, still sitting on the throne. His triple-double capability on a nightly basis and franchise-carrying shoulders that still endure are evidence of No. 1 greatness.<\/p>\n Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder<\/p>\n Purely from a trophy-collecting standpoint if nothing else, Gilgeous-Alexander had one of the greatest seasons in NBA history: a scoring title<\/a>, he was an All-Star starter, made the All-NBA First Team<\/a>, won Kia MVP<\/a>, the West Finals MVP, the NBA title and was NBA Finals MVP<\/a>. He ran the table on the NBA and seemingly is getting better \u2014 at the very least, he\u2019s locked in his prime. Even if he falls short of a few awards and accomplishments next season, Gilgeous-Alexander would remain at or near the top of the rank and file. He\u2019s a hard act to follow, even for him.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Take a look a the top highlights and moments from the 2025 NBA Finals MVP SGA!<\/p>\n Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves<\/p>\n His game is swelling right along with his pride and confidence, both of which are good. Edwards thinks highly of his place in basketball and where he\u2019s headed, and that goes hand-in-hand with his development as a superstar. His 3-point shooting, both in volume and percentage, was last season\u2019s surprise and proof that he hopes to introduce new wrinkles (and how he takes pride in his status). All he\u2019s missing is an appearance in the NBA Finals, although at this rate, after back-to-back trips to the conference finals<\/a>, he\u2019s on pace to give himself a shot at the title.<\/p>\n Luka Don\u010di\u0107, Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n The shocking move to a new team and new system combined to hand him the briefest of setbacks. He didn\u2019t make All-NBA after five straight First Team nods (he failed to reach the requisite number of qualifying games). Even without that honor, he is one of the game\u2019s most effective triple-double talents who is fully capable of elevating teams and taking over games. All eyes are on Don\u010di\u0107 this preseason to see if he has, indeed, whipped himself into better conditioning after enduring much criticism about his fitness. Doing so could lead to better defense from him this season and beyond.<\/p>\n Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors<\/p>\n Here\u2019s where the geezers are clinging to their well-deserved reputations for endurance. Curry is coming off his lowest scoring average of the decade<\/a> (24.7) and the second-lowest full-season 3-point percentage of his career (39.7%). And yet, because he was so far ahead of almost everyone else in those categories, he\u2019s still among the league\u2019s best scorers with very respectable efficiency. A drop-off is inevitable, and maybe it happens this season. Until then, this is where he stands in the West, among the game-changers.<\/p>\n Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks<\/p>\n It\u2019s all about good health with Davis, yesterday, today and tomorrow. He couldn\u2019t even make it through his first season \u2014 heck, first game<\/a> \u2014 with the Mavericks without grabbing a body part. Such is life with one of the most accomplished two-way players of this generation. Make no mistake: Davis has few peers when it comes to doing work at both ends and should confirm as much in 2025-26. His shooting range and post-up skills draw double teams, while his rebounding and shot-blocking make him nearly impossible to replace. Unfortunately, his constant fragility puts his teams in such a position.<\/p>\n Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets<\/p>\n As he creeps deeper into his late 30s, Durant can still get buckets on anyone. He may be running out of teams to join, but not running out of time. Durant is capable of getting 30 or 40 points on any given night, without forcing a single shot. His ability to score off the bounce, in mid-range and from deep is why he\u2019s still a No. 1 option. The rest of his game \u2014 defense, rebounding, passing \u2014 remains respectable for his age. Much like his 2024 Team USA teammates Curry and LeBron James, Durant is playing tricks on the aging process and keeping his performance level high.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Kevin Durant’s trade to the Rockets seems like the cleanest of fits, setting up Houston to build on a strong 2024-25 campaign.<\/p>\n Kawhi Leonard, LA Clippers<\/p>\n Cut and paste the Anthony Davis description above when it comes to Leonard. There\u2019s always the disclaimer \u201cwhen healthy\u201d that applies here as well. Yet his impact on games is so evident when he\u2019s on the floor and capable of playing 35-plus minutes. Efficient shooting (41% on 3-pointers the last three seasons), solid one-on-one ability and a tremendous defender, Leonard remains a premier player here at age 34. He\u2019s a two-time Kia Defensive Player of the Year who may never qualify for that or other awards because of the 65-game minimum. But this list is about the 10 best players, not the 10 most durable.<\/p>\n LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers<\/p>\n Only one player in the history of this game could call himself elite after two decades<\/a> of tread wear, and that man is LeBron. He\u2019s not at his peak, clearly and understandably, but remains on the A-list because the depreciation in his game is slight and mostly limited to defense. James remains capable of filling up a box score, taking the last shot and creating for teammates, all because his pride and dedication to fitness are making that possible. It will be a shocking moment when Father Time finally beats James 1-on-1, because even in his 40s, we tend to suspect he will be around, and at a high level, for a few more seasons.<\/p>\n Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs<\/p>\n He\u2019s the flag bearer for the next gen, a freakish player with small-man skills inside a 7-foot-3 body. He was an elite defensive player almost from the moment he stepped on an NBA court. Assuming he\u2019ll meet the minimum games played, he could have dibs on the Kia Defensive Player of the Year award for seasons to come. Wembanyama isn\u2019t the marquee player in the league just yet, and no need to rush and give him that title right now. His game is evolving, which is a scary thought considering that if he never took the next step, he\u2019d still be at an All-Star level.<\/p>\n * * *<\/p>\n Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him\u00a0here<\/a>, find\u00a0his archive here<\/a>\u00a0and follow him on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery Sports.<\/p>\n
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