The 2025-26 regular season starts in a little over a month. All 30 NBA teams will soon prepare for the new campaign. It’s time to look around the Western Conference, as this year will surely be another jam-packed race among several teams.

Over the next few days, Thunder Wire will rank the 15 West starters among the five positions. Let’s look at the 15 best starting point guards in the Western Conference.

The Oklahoma City Thunder enjoyed a career season out of Isaiah Hartenstein. He was a double-double machine and graduated to a starter. He took on the toughest physical matchups throughout the playoffs.

Here are the rankings for each West starting centers:

1. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets

2024-25 stats: 29.6 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 10.2 APG, 57.6% shooting, 41.7% 3-point shooting in 70 games

One of the greatest players ever. Jokic continues to be the league’s best. The three-time MVP winner had another monster campaign, where he averaged a 30-point triple-double. Looking at his resume, he’ll go down as one of the best players to ever suit up. He’s a perennial All-Star and All-NBA member. Denver’s entire offense runs through him. He almost single-handedly upset the eventual NBA champion in a seven-game series. You’ve surely heard enough about Jokic and his historic play over the years to understand that this was the easiest spot to rank.

2. Victor Wembanyama, Spurs

2024-25 stats: 24.3 PPG, 11.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 3.8 BPG, 47.6% shooting, 35.2% 3-point shooting in 46 games

Viewed as the next face of the NBA, Wembanyama had one of the greatest sophomore campaigns ever before a blood clot cut his season short. The 21-year-old was a 24-point double-double machine who led the league in blocks again. He did that all while playing in San Antonio. He made his first of several All-Star appearances. All the hype that surrounded the seven-footer when he was about to join was worth it and then some. The Spurs have a special talent who will make them a contender sooner rather than later.

3. Rudy Gobert, Timberwolves

2024-25 stats: 12.0 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.4 BPG, 66.9% shooting in 72 games

One of the best paint protectors of his era, Gobert continues to put up defensive masterpieces. He racked up another All-Defense Team honor to make it eight. He also continues to average a double-double. The Timberwolves were able to shock folks with their deep playoff run. He helped with their efforts by bringing lockdown defense. Regardless of how you feel about the 33-year-old and what he brings to the other side of the ball, there’s no denying he’ll always be at the top of these rankings as long as he remains a one-man machine.

4. Domantas Sabonis, Kings

2024-25 stats: 19.1 PPG, 13.9 RPG, 6.0 APG, 59% shooting, 41.7% 3-point shooting in 70 games

The Kings might’ve been a mess, but Sabonis continued to produce. He had another 19-point double-double season. He once again won another rebounding championship for the third straight season. Sacramento runs its entire offense and has produced superb assist numbers for a center. The 29-year-old might not have tasted a lot of playoff success, but that speaks more about the Kings. He’s been one of the better centers of his era, with a nice mix of bully-ball and high feel. He’s the perfect modern-day center.

5. Ivica Zubac, Clippers

2024-25 stats: 16.8 PPG, 12.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.1 BPG, 62.8% shooting in 80 games

One of the better developmental stories in recent years, Zubac enjoyed a breakout season last year. He averaged career highs across the board as a 17-point double-double machine. He finished runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. The advanced metrics loved what the 28-year-old brought on defense. In a season many thought was a lost cause, he anchored the Clippers and was arguably their best player. He’s always been one of the more underrated players in recent years, but it looks like the NBA world has caught up to how good he is.

6. Alperen Sengun, Rockets

2024-25 stats: 19.1 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 4.9 APG, 49.6% shooting, 23.3% 3-point shooting in 76 games

As the Rockets became a surprise second seed, Sengun headlined their roster. He enjoyed a career season that saw him earn his first All-Star bid. The 19-point double-double machine ran Houston’s offense out of the post. His playmaking skills were fully displayed with high assist numbers for his position. The 23-year-old has some of the best feel inside the paint. While he’s a fun offensive player, there’s a clear limitation to a team’s ceiling if he’s your best player. Next to Kevin Durant, it’ll be interesting to see how he plays in a smaller role.

7. Zion Williamson, Pelicans

2024-25 stats: 24.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 56.7% shooting, 23.1% 3-point shooting in 30 games

Injuries ruined another season for Williamson. The talent is tantalizing. He’s a walking 24-plus points who barrels through defenders into the paint. But lengthy absences have caused him to fade into the background of the NBA after being regarded as a potential future face. As the Pelicans navigate the middle ground of a rebuild and contending, the 25-year-old hopes to improve his stock. It feels inevitable that both sides will head for divorce. Let’s see if they can make the best of a bad situation with a solid season to do both sides some good in the trade market.

8. Isaiah Hartenstein, Thunder

2024-25 stats: 11.2 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.1 BPG, 58.1% shooting in 57 games

Arguably their biggest free agent addition, the Thunder saw Hartenstein have a career season. He was another double-double machine with hints of being a secondary playmaker. When you win an NBA championship, you need several role players to have career years simultaneously. That’s what happened here. The 27-year-old became the starting center. He brought a physicality and rebounding advantage that OKC previously didn’t have. He’ll be given a chance to replicate last season’s results, as he could be in line for a payday soon.

9. Walker Kessler, Jazz

2024-25 stats: 11.1 PPG, 12.2 RPG, 1.7 APG, 2.4 BPG, 66.3% shooting in 58 games

Even though the Jazz have been a basement dweller, Kessler has quietly turned into one of the better centers. He had a career season as a double-double machine. The 24-year-old led the league in offensive rebounds. He’s also a solid rim protector. There’s a reason why his name is always mentioned in trade talks. Utah will need to soon decide whether he’s part of its long-term future. If not, teams will line up. All he needs is a good playmaker to feed him lobs as a pick-and-roll partner.

10. Derek Lively II, Mavericks

2024-25 stats: 8.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.6 BPG, 70.2% shooting in 36 games

Injuries plagued Lively II’s sophomore season. Let’s see if he can bounce back. Before that, he was viewed as one of the best up-and-coming centers. The 21-year-old was the perfect pick-and-roll partner who was constantly a lob threat. He helped on the boards. It’ll be interesting to see how he plays without Luka Doncic. Out of the entire Mavericks roster, he could be the most affected without a high-end playmaker on the roster. He will no longer be spoonfed easy buckets.

11. Zach Edey, Grizzlies

2024-25 stats: 9.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.0 APG, 1.3 BPG, 58% shooting in 66 games

It didn’t take long for Edey to claim a starting spot. He helped the Grizzlies make the playoffs with a productive rookie season. The 7-foot-4 center was always an interesting player to keep track of just from his sheer size. Memphis had to have been a fan of what he did. Now, an offseason ankle surgery jeopardizes his sophomore campaign. He will likely miss some time. On top of that, lower-leg injuries are a scary problem for seven-footers who use their strength to get most of their buckets.

12. Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers

2024-25 stats: 6.5 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.6 BPG, 53.9% shooting in 67 games

Like Edey, Clingan was another true seven-footer who entered the NBA last season. You had to like what you saw from him in his first year. He will likely be a full-time starter for the Trail Blazers in his second year. The 21-year-old was a lob threat who was a second-chance machine. Portland will look to be a playoff team and there is a clear path for him to help those aspirations. It’s now about being a rebound machine and a pick-and-roll partner who can get plenty of easy looks around the rim.

13. Mark Williams, Suns

2024-25 stats: 15.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.2 BPG, 60.4% shooting in 44 games

After a trade to the Lakers fell apart, it was obvious the Hornets were going to eventually move Williams. They did so in the offseason when he was dealt to the Suns. He’s been productive, but injuries have limited his time on the court. He had a career season last year in Charlotte despite roster turmoil. He now enters Phoenix in one of the more stacked center rooms in the league. Expect him to be the starter, but Khaman Maluach could eventually take his spot, as he was a lottery pick.

14. Deandre Ayton, Lakers

2024-25 stats: 14.4 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.0 BPG, 56.6% shooting in 36 games

It’s now or never for Ayton. He hasn’t lived up to his 2018 No. 1 pick status, but he can still carve out a decent career. Playing with Luka Doncic and LeBron James should give him plenty of easy scoring opportunities. As long as he rebounds and plays defense, Los Angeles will stay with him as its starting center. He could then leverage his rental situation for another payday. Or he could fall out of the rotation if the same problems that have been around him since he entered the NBA still exist.

15. Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors

2024-25 stats: 15.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 45.4% shooting, 30.5% 3-point shooting in 47 games

This is probably the most unknown center room in the West. Let’s put Kuminga here, even though he’s not technically a center. He’s still waiting to see how his restricted free agency is resolved. He’ll either sign the qualifying offer or a contract extension. There’s no guarantee he’ll be a starter, though. Golden State could go with Quinten Post or Al Horford if it eventually signs the veteran. Regardless, the Warriors’ best play will be when they play small-ball lineups.