Breaking News:
- NBA Cup Advancement: The Knicks are steamrolling through the East, gaining a four-game winning streak with the win over the Raptors on Tuesday, December 9. This game was also the Eastern semifinals for the NBA Cup, which will lead to the Knicks facing Orlando in the Eastern Finals of the Cup. The winner of this match will face the Western Champion in the Final Cup game in Las Vegas.
- LeBron Loses his 10+ Point Streak: LeBron James scoring at least 10 points at night used to be one of the most reliable things in the whole NBA. Day in, day out, Lebron has dropped at least 10 points every game (for 1,297 games) since 2007. That was, however, until December 4, 2025, against the Toronto Raptors, in which LeBron scored only eight points, sacrificing his streak for the game-winning assist to Rui Hachimura.
Power Rankings
OKC Thunder:
Man, I really despise the Oklahoma City Thunder. What do you mean they’re 23-1, lead the league in Net Rating and Defensive Rating, and are fifth in Offensive Rating? While most teams would take a breather after winning a championship, OKC actually has the best shot at going back-to-back. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rides the bench in the fourth quarter because they’re always up by 20 for God’s sake!
Speaking of the MVP, he has NOT slowed down since we last looked at him. He’s averaging 32.8 ppg (2nd in the League), 4.7 rpg, and 6.4 apg in 33 minutes of action! In their last non-NBA Cup game, the Thunder beat the Jazz by 30 points, dominating them in almost all statistics, according to Statmuse. If the Thunder keep playing like this, they have the chance to break the Warriors’ 73-9 record as easily as SGA going to the free throw line.
LA Lakers:
How do I even BEGIN to describe the luck this franchise has? Their fans have been spared the long stretches of rebuilding and playoff heartbreak that so many other teams endure. As soon as they started to suck, they got LeBron James and won a championship in 2020. To show you how absurd that is, the Knicks haven’t had a championship in over 50 YEARS. Now, as LeBron was showing signs of aging, Nico Harrison just HAD to give them Luka Doncic.
The same Luka Doncic that, according to Statmuse, is averaging 35.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg, and 9.1 apg while leading the league in scoring. I mean COME ON! As long as the team stays healthy, they will most likely keep their 2nd seed for the foreseeable future. This team is stacked with championship potential, future MVPs, and banners that Adam Silver might as well already be having woven.
Denver Nuggets:
What the Denver Nuggets are doing would be insane for any team if they weren’t the Denver Nuggets. In the ENTIRE Nuggets roster, Nikola Jokic is the only All-Star, and they’re still SOMEHOW clinching the 3rd Seed in the highly competitive Western Conference.
And boy is Jokic balling. Currently, according to Statmuse, he leads his team in all three major categories, as he is averaging a triple-double of 29.2 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 11.0 assists AS A CENTER. In fact, Jokic is currently leading the MVP race according to NBA.com, being the only player to average a triple-double this season. And it’s not just Jokic, as his role-playing teammates are pulling their weight alongside him, with Aaron Gordon and Jamal Murray averaging 18.8 ppg and 25.0 ppg.
Houston Rockets:
UNC Kevin Durant still has it. At 37 years old, Durant has led the Rockets to the 4th seed in the Western Conference, while averaging, according to Statmuse, 25.3 ppg. And it’s not just Durant, the entire team is stepping up, with Alperen Sengun leading the team in assists with 7.6, 23.1 ppg, and 9.1 rpg.
As a team, the Rockets are 2nd in Net Rank, 2nd in Offensive Rating, and 5th in Defensive Rating. Their main weaknesses are three-point shooting and turnovers—they sit 20th in three-pointers made and and 24th in turnovers, according to Statmuse. If Houston can fix these areas, they have a solid shot at a deep playoff run. That said, I still don’t think they’ll be able to overcome the Thunder when it really matters.
Conclusion:
This Western Conference is, as many have pointed out, one of the most competitive in history. The Thunder are chasing a chance at history, Luka Doncic gearing up to carry LeBron’s torch in LA, Nikola Jokic is putting up another triple-double, and Kevin Durant is preparing for his own Last Dance.
