The Utah Jazz are emerging as a new power in the NBA's Western Conference as the league's balance shifts. The upcoming 2026-27 season could be a turning point, with the Jazz positioned to capitalize on uncertainty among other contenders.
Who are the top teams in the West?
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are the clear top tier. Their cores remain intact. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning force for OKC. Victor Wembanyama's superstardom in San Antonio is just getting started. Everyone else is currently playing catch-up to these two franchises. Minor roster tweaks haven't changed the fundamental hierarchy at the summit of the conference.
Which teams should be contenders but have questions?
Four teams sit just below the top, each with significant concerns. The Denver Nuggets still have Nikola Jokic, one of the world's best players. They finished third last season despite injuries. Their depth remains a problem, though. Everything hinges on Aaron Gordon's health if they want to climb back to the top.
The Los Angeles Lakers have entered the Luka Dončić era after LeBron James' departure. They added Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Collin Sexton in a busy offseason. Dončić elevates teammates, so they should make the playoffs. Defense beyond Kessler is a major question for the long NBA season. You can track their progress against the Jazz on our schedule page.
The Minnesota Timberwolves feature electric star Anthony Edwards. Adding LaMelo Ball should help the backcourt. There's a sense this team has hit its ceiling, however. No retooling seems likely to push them into the conference's elite tier.
Then there are the Houston Rockets. They shot from the basement to the West's second-best record in 2025. They finished fifth in 2026 even without Fred VanVleet. They should stay in the playoff race. Team chemistry and Kevin Durant's fit are ongoing questions. An injury to a key player could sink any of these four teams.
Why are the Utah Jazz an emerging power?
Timing is everything in the NBA. The Jazz's rebuild appears to be syncing with a period of vulnerability for the established 'should-be' contenders. While the Spurs and Thunder are secure, the tier below is unstable. Denver has depth issues, the Lakers are integrating a new superstar, Minnesota may be capped out, and Houston has vibe checks. This creates a vacuum.
The Jazz, by contrast, have built a cohesive young core without the glaring flaws of their rivals. Their explosive 147-point performance against Memphis shows their offensive potential. The shifting Western Conference power balance presents a perfect opportunity. A team on the rise, like Utah, can supplant those with unresolved issues. The 2026-27 season is the ideal moment for their emergence.
