DEBATE: Who is the BEST Player in the WESTERN CONFERENCE? | Can Nikola Jokic REGAIN The THRONE?

August 31, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Victor Wembanyama’s first playoff run included a plus-23 net rating from January onward, a 27-point, 11-rebound, three-block series against Oklahoma City while shooting 40% from three, and a net rating swing of roughly plus-80 in his minutes versus minus-40 when he sat. That was enough for one host to rank him the No. 1 player in the Western Conference entering the season. The other host still picked Nikola Jokić. That disagreement—between the alien rookie who just rewired a franchise and the two-time MVP who may have been playing hurt—anchors a broader debate about who belongs in the West’s top five right now and who will own that list a year from now.

The top three: Jokić, Wembanyama, and SGA

Both hosts agree the West’s three best players are Jokić, Wembanyama, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, just in different orders. The case for Jokić at No. 1 rests on his pre-injury peak: over his first 32 games last season, he averaged 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists on 72% true shooting, a stretch one host called “the best start to a season ever.” A knee injury derailed him, and his post-injury play dropped to a merely All-NBA level. The host who kept Jokić first argues that if healthy—and he notes Jokić is currently “destroying France” in international play—he remains the best offensive player alive because of his “genius level” floor vision and ability to solve any defense.

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What you'll learn

1 (03:09) **Opening the Debate: Top Five in the West Right Now** - The hosts set the ground rules: ranking players as if Kawhi Leonard has been traded (and is therefore out of the conference), and ordering them 1-5 based on last season’s performance.
2 (03:35) **Number One: Victor Wembanyama vs. Nikola Jokic** - Swipper argues for Wembanyama at #1 based on his historic defensive impact and playoff performance, while Danny Cunningham defends Jokic as the still-unquestioned best player in the world.
3 (07:45) **Number Two: Jokic or SGA?** - The hosts swap their second picks, with Swipper placing Jokic here and Danny going with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, sparking a debate on impact vs. scoring.
4 (09:37) **Number Three: SGA vs. Wembanyama** - The hosts now slot SGA (Swipper) and Wembanyama (Danny) at #3, with both acknowledging the other’s greatness and the potential for Wembanyama to rise.
5 (14:58) **Number Four: Luka Doncic** - Both hosts agree Luka Doncic is the clear #4, calling him one of the four best players in basketball and an all-time great scorer.
6 (19:28) **Number Five: Steph Curry vs. Anthony Edwards** - The final spot creates a split: Swipper picks a healthy Steph Curry, while Danny chooses Anthony Edwards, citing youth and a rising trajectory.
7 (25:04) **Projecting Next Year: Who Will Be #1?** - The hosts shift to predicting the top five at the end of the upcoming season, starting with who will hold the top spot.

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Show Notes

On this edition of Locked On NBA Game Night, Danny Cunningham (Locked On Cavs) and Swipa (Locked On Nuggets) Debate who the five best players in the Western Conference are entering this season. The guys discuss the cases to be made for Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Luka Doncic and more. Next, the duo talks about which five players they think will be regarded as the best players in the West at the end of this season.

Image Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

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