Western Conference Power Rankings: Feb. 2025 Edition

The first month of 2025 is in the books.

That means it’s time to drop some fresh power ranks.

LET’S GET IT!

1. Oklahoma City Thunder (37-9) - prev. #1

January: (10-4) No. 7 offense / No. 2 defense

The Thunder have been more mortal lately, but SGA has somehow taken his scoring up another level, already with seven games of 40+ points, including two 50-burgers in a week.

OKC is 17-2 when SGA scores 33 or more.

Hate to say it, but the Thunder better hope they don’t run into Dallas in the postseason.

2. Houston Rockets (32-15) - prev. #3

January: (11-4) No. 8 offense & No. 17 defense

And all the Rockets fans shouted AMEN!!!

Amen Thompson’s meteoric rise has lifted this team to true contender status. He is everywhere on the court, constantly flying around and wreaking havoc on both ends. When Amen grabs 8+ rebounds, the Rockets are 17-4.

It’s encouraging that the Rox can still pile up wins when Jalen Green isn’t on top of his game. He’s definitely the more electrifying player of the two, but first time All-Star Sengun is the more consistent rock for this team.

3. Memphis Grizzlies (32-16) - prev. #2

January: (9-5) No. 3 offense / No. 26 defense

The Grizz started 2025 without Ja and lost 4 of the first 6 games.

Since then? They’ve won 7 of the last 8 with three of those wins without Ja, dealing with a shoulder injury. (All-Star JJJ hasn’t missed a game since October.)

The Memphis defense has noticeably slipped compared to the first two months of the season, but the offense has stayed elite so it hasn’t mattered. Yet.

4. Denver Nuggets (29-19) - prev. #4

January: (11-6) No. 2 offense / No. 18 defense

The Nuggets were cruising through January, winning 8 of 9 games before a 3-game skid on the road to the Wolves, Bulls and Knicks. They had to claw out a 137-134 win in Philly last night as well.

The Denver offense hasn’t missed a beat all the season. It’s the defensive end that decides games for them.

Is that… is that Jamal Murray coming around the mountain? Back-to-back 30-point games, looking like the Blue Arrow of old.

5. Los Angeles Clippers (28-20) - prev. #6

January: (9-6) No. 17 offense / No. 1 defense

No team in the NBA had a stronger defense than the Clippers in January.

Kawhi has returned and looks like the same ole robot Kawhi for the most part.

He’s still getting his sea legs back, but it makes you wonder how dangerous this team could really be. The Clippers are so, so much more suited to be the fun underdogs than the front-running bimbos.

6. Los Angeles Lakers (27-19) - prev. #7

January: (9-5) No. 11 offense & No. 7 defense

The annual Grammy’s road trip was coinciding with some of the Lake Show’s best ball.

Then AD went out and they lost to the shorthanded Sixers. But before that, AD had that incredible 21-point and 11-rebound 1st quarter in Charlotte.

The offense has improved against a more favorable schedule. Most impressive was the dismantling of the Celtics on TNT. This team is more poised and capable of playing consistent basketball after the D-Lo trade. Vando finally back is a boon as well.

7. Minnesota Timberwolves (27-21) - prev. #8

January: (10-6) No. 5 offense / No. 10 defense

The Wolves have won five straight and settle in for a 5-game homestand.

It’s that point in the season where the T-Wolves are figuring things out and finding themselves.

Ant-Man is truly the sun for this team. His assists have been ticking up recently and he seems more comfortable setting up his teammates.

8. Phoenix Suns (25-22) - prev. #10

January: (10-5) No. 12 offense / No. 15 defense

Since Jan. 9, the Suns are 9-3 with some positive vibes flowing.

It’s worth looking closer at who the wins were against: Jazz, Hornets, Nets and Wizards twice are all in there. But those are the cupcakes you have to cash in.

Pacific Division wins over the Clippers and Warriors are a good step in the right direction. But there are some true tests that lie before All-Star: at OKC, Nuggets, Grizzlies at Houston.

9. Sacramento Kings (24-23) - prev. #12

January: (10-4) No. 10 offense / No. 13 defense

Okay, Doug Christie!

The Kings have turned a corner in 2025 with a much-improved defense up until the games at Denver and at MSG when they have up 132 to the Nuggets and 143 to the Knicks.

The headlines dropping that they are shopping Fox now of all times is so, so Kangz.

10. Dallas Mavericks (26-23) - prev. #5

January: (6-10) No. 19 offense / No. 22 defense

Life without Luka was always going to be an uphill battle.

The Mavs have held their head above water and somehow still have OKC’s number no matter what the circumstances are.

Dallas had seven different leading scorers in January: Kyrie, Klay, Gafford, P.J. Washington, Dinwiddie, Hardy and Grimes.

11. Golden State Warriors (24-24) - prev. #11

January: (8-8) No. 18 offense / No. 25 defense

Going .500 in January was a lot better than 4-9 in December.

But Steph seems far too uninterested in going to the depths to try to save this team. He’s averaging a measly 16.8 points over the last 6 games. Is Supernova Steph waiting around the bend for the home stretch of the season?

It will help drastically to have Draymond back on the court and eventually Kuminga as well for that matter.

12. San Antonio Spurs (21-24) - prev. #9

January: (4-8) No. 16 offense / No. 29 defense

A 4-8 record in January isn’t great, but the four wins were: at Denver, at the Lakers, dropping 140 on the Pacers in Paris and 144 on the Bucks.

The Spurs cannot be taken lightly, but the defense has to find a way to get stops when Wemby isn’t on the floor.

A fun stat: even without Pop (get well soon Pop!), the Spurs are still No. 1 in the NBA in assist percentage.

Also: could there be a Fox on the way? [insert eyeball emoji here]

13. Portland Trail Blazers (19-29) - prev. #13

January: (8-8) No. 21 offense / No. 9 defense

Well looky here!

The Blazers have won 6 of the last 7 and we know that Joe Cronin is NOT sleeping well at night.

Add Deni “Turbo” Avdija to the renounced renaissance of NBA nicknames this season. Turbo has been an injection for this offense and defense that stepped way up in January.

We’d still like Cling Kong to get some more minutes, though!

14. New Orleans Pelicans (12-37) - prev. #15

January: (7-9) No. 14 offense / No. 27 defense

Just when it looked like the Pels had finally turned a corner and had some momentum going.

Dejounte Murray tore his Achilles and is out for the season.

Zion has actually been playing some basketball and that has been fun. Also fun was the stretch where the Pelicans ripped through an easy schedule and went 7-3 over a 10-game stretch behind the 1-2 punch of Trey Murphy and C.J. McCollum. Trey Murphy all the way UNLEASHED.

15. Utah Jazz (10-36) - prev. #14

January: (3-12) No. 25 offense / No. 23 defense

Contrary to Joe Cronin, Danny Ainge is sleeping like an absolute baby. (Except for that nightmarish Saturday night when the Jazz beat the Nets in OT.)

Rookie Isaiah Collier is somebody to keep an eye on. He’s been the de facto point guard and already has ten games of 8+ assists.

The Jazz haven’t won any of those games, but that’s precisely the point.

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