Pacific Division NBA Futures and Predictions 2024-25: Who Will Win the Pacific Division in NBA 2024-25? (Kings or Suns?)

Although every team in this division is competitive, only the Sacramento Kings project as a true Western Conference Contender. How much fight do the Warriors, Clippers and Lakers have in them?

(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Sacramento Kings
2. Phoenix Suns
3. Golden State Warriors
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Los Angeles Lakers

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NBA Pacific Division 2024-25: Current Odds to Win

*Odds as of October 14th

Sacramento Kings (46-36, Play-In No. 9 Seed)

Season Overview

• Last NBA Championship: 1950-51 (As Rochester Royals)
• Key Move: Trading for perennial all-star DeMar DeRozan and re-signing elite sixth man Malik Monk (4-year, $78 million).
• In A Nutshell: The Kings should win their second division title in three years, but they have to close strong and have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs to be true Western Conference title contenders.

Sacramento Kings Synopsis

After winning its first Pacific Division title in 20 years in 2022-23, it looked like the Kings would be right there to challenge the L.A. Clippers for the division title last season. Then disaster struck. They lost five of their last seven games then limped into the play-in, beating the Golden State Warriors before losing to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The trouble was losing shooting guard Kevin Huerter and sixth man Malik Month to season-ending injuries. That duo is back and now DeRozan and his 24 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 5.3 apg come over from Chicago. With De’Aaron Fox averaging 26.6 ppg and a league-leading 2.0 steals, something is going to have to give.

That’s because Keegan Murray is a budding star at power forward and center Domantas Sabonis was third team All-NBA last season. That’s a terrific core of six, and as long as there are no untimely injuries this team could be dangerous in the playoffs.

Sacramento Kings 2024-2025 NBA Pacific Division Prediction

• Prediction: 50-32. It might take a few games for DeRozan to mesh with the returning core, but he might also be even more dangerous down the stretch carrying less of the offensive load than he did in Chicago.

Stay updated on all the latest NBA futures and predictions in our betting news section.

Phoenix Suns (49-33, first round playoffs)

Season Overview

• Last NBA Championship: None.
• Key Move: Signing free agent point guard Tyus Jones to a 1-year, $3.3 million dollar year. Not having a true PG probably cost Frank Vogel his job.
• In A Nutshell: It’s better to have poor roster construction with talented players than less talented players, by NBA standards.

Phoenix Suns Synopsis

The Suns had championship aspirations last year, but they quickly found out a lead guard in a playoff necessity. Devin Booker, Brad Beal and Grayson Allen took on the PG role (especially Booker) and it didn’t work. Phoenix was promptly swept in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jones probably isn’t the championship answer, but he could bring some stability and bring out the best in the glut of wing scorers. There are other issues that really didn’t get addressed and those are rebounding and defending at a level necessary to advance in the Western Conference playoffs.

Mike Budenholzer, who coached Milwaukee to the 2021 NBA title, was brought in to address those issues, but it’s hard to pin-point what is really missing of a team where many of the strengths of its best players overlap. Keep in mind star Kevin Durant is now 36 and last season Beal and Allen had injury issues.

Phoenix Suns 2024-2025 NBA Pacific Division Prediction

• Prediction: 48-34. Something needs to click here and the Suns are hoping Jones (and Budenholzer) ignite the engine.

Golden State Warriors (46-36, Play-In No. 10 Seed)

Season Overview

• Last NBA Championship: 2021-22.
• Key Move: Signing Steph Curry to a 1-year, $61 Million dollar deal. As the franchise moves on from the core that brought four championships, he alone gives the Warriors’ fans hope.
• In A Nutshell: This team can still play at a high level offensively; it’s the team defense that has slipped noticeably from the championship level.

Golden State Warriors Synopsis

The Warriors are like any aging club; they have to work real hard for what they get and last year that was a loss to Sacramento in the Play-in game. With Curry leading the way, Golden State still has a fighting chance in key games. As Curry displayed in the 2024 Olympic Games, he can still create magic and deliver in the clutch.

A NBA season, however, is not the Olympics and he can’t do it every night. Forget the peak of the dynasty in the late 2010s; the Warriors only have four players remaining from even the 2022 title-winning club: Chef, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney, with Curry now 36 and Green now 34.

Bringing in guards De’Anthony Melton and Buddy Hield, along with point forward Kyle Anderson, were good moves but probably not enough to get this team by the first round.

Golden State Warriors 2024-2025 NBA Pacific Division Prediction

• Prediction: 45-37. Are the Warriors turning into the 1980s Celtics that held onto championship aspirations a bit too long? History may be repeating itself and now Green’s trade value is diminished.

Los Angeles Clippers (51-31, first round playoffs)

Season Overview

• Last NBA Championship: None. (As even non-basketball fans know.)
• Key Move: Getting Derrick Jones Jr. from the Mavs. The Clippers need some type of spark if Kawhi Leonard can’t stay healthy (again.)
• In A Nutshell: The richest owner in the league opens a new arena (Intuit Dome in Inglewood), then brings in bargain players like Jones, Kris Dunn and Kevin Porter Jr. Go figure.

Los Angeles Clippers Synopsis

James Harden is on the ball, Leonard is back, but once again it will come down not necessarily to health, but rather keeping those aging stars fresh for the playoffs. With Terance Mann signed to a long term deal and with Dunn, Mo Bamba, and Jones, the defense should be better and help Harden and Leonard stay fresh for the stretch run.

Last season, many pegged the Clippers as title contenders, but once again there were health and chemistry issues, as the Clips lost to eventual West Conference champ Dallas in the first round as the favorites in the series in their last season at Crypto.com Arena.

Although we have never looked at Paul George as a true superstar (go see our 76ers preview in the Atlantic Division), he’s still a productive player and losing him via free agency is a blow.

Los Angeles Clippers 2024-2025 NBA Pacific Division Prediction

• Prediction: 43-39. The Clippers are not better than last year when they simply weren’t good enough. Or is it healthy enough?

Want picks on the Kings or Suns for the Pacific Division? Check out our Ballislife Bets page for expert insights.

Los Angeles Lakers (47-35, first round playoffs)

Season Overview

• Last NBA Championship: 2020. (We don’t list 2019-20 because the season stopped for two months.)
• Key Move: Drafting Dalton Knecht at No. 17 overall. He’s looked at as a quality player at that pick.
• In A Nutshell: The Lakers didn’t make many moves and basically have the same team as last year. A good, but not great roster, with two aging superstars.

Los Angeles Lakers Synopsis

The Lake Show essentially has the same roster as last season, but with a new rookie coach in J.J. Redick. He has no real experience at this level but with LeBron James’ blessing it really doesn’t matter. He’s in the pressure cooker now and the ingredients are just solid.

The Lakers are poor defensively as a group and don’t have what many would consider a clutch, knock down 3-pointer shooter. They can win games with grit, the brilliance of Anthony Davis or the all-around play of James, but that hasn’t proven to be sustainable in recent seasons.

James’ son, Bronny James, is now on the team and the first time they play together is going to be a memorable NBA moment. But similar to the entire theme of this season and roster the question is, then what afterwards?

Los Angeles Lakers 2024-2025 NBA Pacific Division Prediction

• Prediction: 42-40. People are going to hyper-dissect this team, as they usually do each season, when the simple answer is it’s not good enough to win big, regardless of the coach or the hyperbole.

For deeper analysis on the Pacific Division odds and betting guides, explore our NBA betting section.