Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs lead Western Conference title tiers

The NBA offseason reaches its final month as the Western Conference takes shape for the 2026-27 regular season. The Oklahoma City Thunder enter the year as co-title favorites alongside the San Antonio Spurs. Despite summer roster changes, the Thunder retain a core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, aiming for a fourth consecutive first-seed finish. Meanwhile, the Spurs build around Victor Wembanyama, who enters the season as a primary candidate for league MVP honors. Other teams face transitional periods, with the Minnesota Timberwolves integrating LaMelo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers starting a new era under Luka Doncic. The Denver Nuggets remain a wildcard contender led by Nikola Jokic, while the Houston Rockets retain veteran Kevin Durant for the upcoming campaign.

• 4:01 PMYahoo Sports — Ranking the Western Conference: Where do OKC Thunder rank among contenders?