Best Shoes for Basketball

While sneakers come in wide-ranging styles, none are more hyped than basketball shoes. Over the years, the iconic footwear style has seen some amazing and legendary designs including Air Jordan 1s, Converse All-Stars, Nike Air Force 1s and plenty more. One of the originals, the classic Chuck Taylor, paved the way for designs that allowed players skills to shine through. Other companies joined the bandwagon with their own versions of performance-oriented sneakers. As we speak, almost every big sports brand has their own line of basketball designs.

Performance is critical, but so are aesthetics. When playing, the court turns to a de facto fashion show where the flashiest, best performing shoes win. Besides their cool statement, basketball shoes are also popular for their technical elements. They are a desirable style of athletic footwear that reflect the principles of technological advancement, hard work and teamwork. It’s no surprise that basketball sneakers are sought-after and worn by fashion-savvy folks, players and fans alike. If you want to improve your on-court performance, you should seriously consider investing in a new pair of basketball shoes.

Basketball players depend on their feet to sprint, jump and cut. As such, they need the right pair of sneakers. Selecting the best basketball shoes for your game can be the difference between losing and winning. The perfect basketball shoes should be lightweight and provide impact protection, lockdown support and court grip. With the right kicks, every movement, from starts and stops to crossovers to explosive bounds and leaps will feel comfortable. Basketball shoes also provide support and protect your ankles from rolling. They will allow you to get the most of of your basketball training workouts.

Best Shoes For Basketball Training

With the new NBA season only weeks away, now is the best time to review best shoes for basketball. There are thousands of basketball sneakers from various brands in the market. Reading reviews, finding out about the latest releases, getting the right size and checking prices on different stores makes the job of selecting the right pair daunting. To help you get started, we’ve rounded up 5 of the highest performing basketball shoes available for purchase to get your shopping started. We will evaluate the vital aspects and values of each shoe to help you pick a pair that will best address your unique needs..

Adidas Harden Vol. 3

The previous iterations of Adidas Harden were one of the best-selling models in the previous years, and it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Adidas Harden Vol. 3 is one of 2019’s highest-rated model. Inspired by James Harden’s on-court style, the shoe’s upper has been completely redesigned. The designers got rid of the midfoot cage and placed an elastic strap over the metatarsal area to give you a beautiful, comfortable shoe. The Harden Vol. 3 is made from a quality knit that feels supportive and strong and comes in various fun colorways to complement your outfits. The cushioning system in this shoe stands out from the crowds. It features a low-heel-to toe offset and Boost to give you protection and balance on the court, and an incredible amount of bounceback. The outsole features a tightly packed herringbone traction. In terms of fit, the Harden Vol. 3 features a supportive internal heel counter, a locked-down feel and a flat base.

Jordan Why Not ZerO.2

Released on 10^th January 2019, this Russell Westbrook’s signature model features a blend of inventive engineering and wild design. It also comes in a series of flashy colorways. It’s a basketball shoe both players and fans can get behind. A unique feature is the “0” traction pattern meant to match Westbrook’s jersey number. The shoe grips both indoor and outdoor courts well. To provide excellent support and lockdown, there’s Phylon in the heel. This model also provides forefoot impact protection. If cushion and feedback from a shoe is your thing, you will love the ZerO.2. The upper is made of comfortable and durable mesh and knit. Speaking of fit, the Zero.2 fits true to size. For lockdown, you get an overlay of panels/straps that wrap around your foot at the forefoot, midfoot and rear. The rear and midfoot heel support comes from the TPU plates that are part of the FlightSpeed system. Overall, this shoe is comfortable, quick and supportive.

Nike Lebron 16

Made in collaboration with one of the best athlete of our generation and the longest-running active player with a signature sneaker, LeBron James’ 16th signature shoe packs vital updates in terms of flexibility, weight and fit. The result is an overall high-performing shoe that can be worn both on the court and as a casual outdoor sneaker. The Battleknit 2.0 is the biggest change in this shoe released in September 2018. It is made from stronger and more reliable fibers meant to keep you locked in no matter of the speed or way you move. Somehow, the shoe still manages to allow customization and flexibility for the ultimate fit. The tongue has an expandable gusset with a pull tab at the heel that allows easy entry. You don’t have to worry about fit or rubbing issue, thanks to the collapsible tongue. The cushion has a blend of Zoom Air and Max Air shock absorption to give you amazing impact protection and internal Achilles support. The bottom features an improved herringbone-patterned outsole. To avoid picking up dirt, the lines are further apart. This means less cleaning and more playtime. We recommend this shoe to powerful and explosive wing players.

Adidas Dame 5

• Regular fit; Lace closure
• Suede upper with a textile tongue
• Bounce cushioning provides enhanced comfort and flexibility
• Rubber outsole for excellent grip

An early contender for the best all-round basketball shoe of 2019 , the Adidas Dame 5 Damian Lillard’s latest signature shoe, and also his best. It was released early this year on 1st February 2019 and utilizes herringbone traction from heel to toe similar to the rest of Adidas’ current basketball shoes lineup. What sets the Dame 5 from the others is the unique implementation of the pattern. Every line of the pattern is thick and widely spaced apart. This is meant to make it harder for dust to clog up the outsole if you happen to play on street courts. The traction is just as reliable outdoors making the sneakers a solid outdoor option. With this shoe, you also get amazing lockdown, an impeccable fit and great cushioning. You’ll enjoy plenty of impact protection without feeling instability or loss of court feel. The inside is generously padded. There are currently 2 material options for Dame 5, leather and mesh. The mesh versions is slightly lighter in weight than its leather counterpart. The 2 options provide 2 different on-foot experiences without feeling like they’re different shoes. The best thing about Dame 5 is that it comes at an affordable price.

Under Armour Curry 6

UA’s HOVR cushioning has a reputation for maximizing comfort underneath the entire foot to offer a nice blend of court feel and impact protection. This model released on 4^th January 2019 is a true engineering marvel and has something for everyone. The Curry 6 has gained more praises by sneaker reviewers than its predecessor. If you’re a fan of the low profile feel of the past Curry models, you will love the Curry 6.  The HOVR has been tweaked to be more subdued than the running version. In this model, UA used knit full-length, from heel to toe.  Sporting a circular traction pattern on the lateral side, the translucent rubber outsole provides excellent multi-direction grip and manages to add a nice flourish of color. The shoe is well-ventilated to ensure that your feet remain dry even after a long training or playing session. Traction and stability are 2 features this line most known for and this model doesn’t disappoint. The flex grooves are carved into the outsole to provide natural motion, and the base is fairly flat and wide for stability.

Conclusion

The goal of the above list is to help you determine the best option for you from the currently available basketball shoes. We considered attributes such as traction, fit, overall look, reliability and other performance specifics for each shoe. Whether you want to rock the shoes on the court to control the game or keep them as part of our shoe collection, all of these shoes will accommodate any player or position. Get your Pair today!