If you asked an NBA fan ten years ago which division was the toughest, they’d probably mutter something about the Southwest or the Atlantic. But honestly? Things have shifted. The Northwest Division NBA has quietly—and then very loudly—turned into a meat grinder. It’s not just about the travel mileage anymore, though flying between Minneapolis and Portland is still a haul. It’s about the fact that as of mid-January 2026, the road to the Larry O'Brien trophy basically runs through a bunch of high-altitude arenas and freezing midwestern cities.
We are currently witnessing a weird, historical peak for these five teams. You have the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder looking like a literal dynasty in the making. You’ve got Nikola Jokic in Denver doing things that shouldn't be physically possible for a human that size. Then there’s the absolute chaos in Minnesota and the slow-burn rebuilds out in Utah and Portland. It’s a lot to keep track of.
The Thunder’s World (We’re Just Living in It)
Let’s be real: the Oklahoma City Thunder are the problem. For everyone else, I mean. Coming off their 2025 NBA Championship, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his squad haven't slowed down a bit. By the midway point of this 2025-26 season, they’re sitting at 34-7. That’s not just "good." That’s historic.
What’s wild is how they did it. They didn't just buy a superteam; they grew one in a lab. Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams both signed those massive max extensions, and they’ve actually lived up to the tax bill. People forget that before 2008, this was the Seattle SuperSonics. That move to OKC still stings for folks in the Pacific Northwest, but the success they’ve had since the relocation is hard to argue with. They’ve won eight division titles now. That’s more than anyone else in the group.
The Thunder defense is suffocating. They’re currently ranked first in the league on that end, and Shai is averaging nearly 32 points a game. It’s almost boring how efficient they are. Almost.
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High Altitude and Heavy Hitters in Denver
Then there’s the Denver Nuggets. If OKC is the flashy new sports car, Denver is the heavy-duty truck that just keeps rolling. Even with Nikola Jokic dealing with that nagging knee hyperextension from December, the Nuggets are still 28-13.
Jokic is a magician. Seriously. Before he got hurt, he was averaging a triple-double. He leads the league in rebounds and assists. Just let that sink in for a second—a center leading the league in assists. The Nuggets won the whole thing in 2023, and they’re still the biggest threat to the Thunder's repeat hopes.
They made some big moves this past offseason, too. Bringing in Cam Johnson was a gamble, especially after moving on from Michael Porter Jr., but Johnson’s playmaking has given them a different look. And honestly, having Jonas Valanciunas as a backup center is such a massive upgrade over the "revolving door" of bench bigs they’ve had the last few years.
The Wolves, the Blazers, and the Jazz
Minnesota is in a fascinating spot. Anthony Edwards is basically the face of the league at this point. "Ant-Man" is putting up 44-point games like it’s a casual Tuesday night at the YMCA. The Timberwolves are 27-14 right now, hovering right behind Denver.
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But there’s a clock ticking here. Mike Conley is 38. Rudy Gobert is 33. The defense is still elite, but you have to wonder how long that window stays open before the age starts to show. They’re "running it back" with Julius Randle and Naz Reid, and for now, it’s working.
- Portland Trail Blazers: They’re the "spoilers" this year. At 19-22, they aren't title contenders, but Deni Avdija has turned into a legitimate star there. He's up nearly 10 points per game in his scoring average.
- Utah Jazz: They’re struggling. 14-25 is rough. But Keyonte George is the silver lining—he’s been putting up 25 and 7 since December started. They're young, they're fast, and they're going to be a problem in two years.
Why the Northwest Division NBA Matters Right Now
Divisions in the NBA can sometimes feel like a formality. Unlike the NFL, where winning your division is everything, the NBA is more about the overall conference seed. But the Northwest is different because of the density of talent.
When the Thunder, Nuggets, and Wolves play each other, it’s not just a regular-season game. It’s a playoff preview. These teams genuinely seem to dislike each other, which is great for us. The "I-5 rivalry" between Portland and the old Sonics might be on ice until Seattle (hopefully) gets a team back, but the 2026 version of that heat is OKC vs. Denver.
What to Watch For the Rest of the Season
If you’re betting on or just following the Northwest Division NBA, keep your eyes on the injury reports. The race for the Sam Jones Trophy—that’s the trophy they give to the division winner now—is going to come down to health.
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- Jokic’s Knee: If he’s 100% by March, Denver can catch OKC. If not, the Thunder cruise.
- The Portland Leap: Don't be surprised if the Blazers sneak into the Play-In tournament. They’re currently 9th in the West.
- The Wolves' Stamina: Can Conley and Gobert keep this pace up for 82 games?
The Northwest used to be the "forgotten" division. Not anymore. It's the most competitive, high-scoring, and statistically dominant group of teams in the league. Whether you're a die-hard Nuggets fan or just someone who loves watching Shai Gilgeous-Alexander break ankles, this is the part of the map you need to be watching.
To get the most out of following this division, check the head-to-head tiebreaker rules, as the top three teams are likely to finish within five games of each other. Watching the divisional win-loss records is crucial because that’s often the deciding factor for home-court advantage in May.
Next Steps:
Keep an eye on the January 28th matchup between OKC and Denver. It’ll likely determine who holds the tiebreaker for the top seed heading into the All-Star break. You should also track Deni Avdija’s Most Improved Player odds, as his recent surge has him as a frontrunner.