10 Best Basketball Shoes For Ankle Support, 100+ Shoes Tested in 2022

Support is an important part of every basketball shoe. When a lockdown isn't so secure, sprints become wobbly, shots are unstable, and the whole game just crumbles. Hence, sports shoemakers like Nike and Adidas equip their products with several support features. On this page, we present the basketball shoes that offer the most dependable support to the ankle.

Even though science has already shown us that collar height doesn’t really have that much impact on the amount of support that a shoe gives, mid- and high-tops are still preferred by the players for that additional wrap around the ankle.

Overview of this guide

1. How we pick basketball shoes that provide the best ankle support
2. Best overall
3. Best Nike
4. Best Jordan
5. Best Adidas
6. Best budget
7. What are the most popular basketball shoes for ankle support in 2022?
8. What are the cheapest basketball shoes for ankle support in 2022?

How we pick basketball shoes that provide the best ankle support

To ensure the validity of our claims and eventual assessments, no review was written without us playing in the shoe first. Our experience on the court served as the major determinant of the basketball shoe's fate in our rankings. In addition to this, we include the following:

We say no to freebies.

Don't get us wrong, free shoes are nice and we will always be grateful for them. However, the sponsorship arrangement may cloud our judgment. As reviewers, we feel it's the best if we keep sponsors at bay.

The experience of other testers are valid, too!

Before we finalize our reviews and our picks, we make it a point to refer to the experiences of other basketball shoe experts/testers. We don't see them as competitors; instead, we consider them our partners in giving you a more comprehensive appreciation of what a basketball shoe can offer.

Best basketball shoes for ankle support overall

11 colorways available

Nike Kyrie 7

11 colorways available

Unisex

$130 from Als Best price from 53 retailers >

Top pick

Players with aggressive playing styles will love the Kyrie 7. Wearing this shoe equips anyone playing with an advantage when playing aggressively. Having an upper that hugs the contour of your foot, a bouncy cushion and an elite tread pattern that will provide control is a winner. The Kyrie 7 is recommended for everyday and competitive basketball players.

See our full review and facts

7 colorways available

Nike Adapt BB 2.0

7 colorways available

Unisex

$400 $280 from Nike Best price from 53 retailers >

Also great

The Nike Adapt BB 2.0 is a specialty basketball sneaker that delivers a unique playing experience on the hardwood. The high-tech FitAdapat system is simple to use while the Zoom Air Turbo cushion is both comfortable and responsive. However, all these premium technologies come at a steep price. Serious hoopers looking for the latest and greatest can settle for the LeBrons or Air Jordan XXXV.

See our full review and facts

Best Nike basketball shoes for ankle support

Nike Lebron 19

Men

Women

$200 from Nike Best price from 53 retailers >

Top pick

You know something's amiss when the signature player himself gives up on his signature shoe. LeBron James has not been wearing the LeBron 19s in his games, and it looks like it's for good measure. The traction sucks, and everything else goes down with it.

See our full review and facts

15 colorways available

Nike Lebron 18

15 colorways available

Unisex

$200 $150 from Champs Sports Best price from 53 retailers >

Also great

The Nike LeBron 18 is a much-hyped shoe that simply did not live up to the expectations of many. While all experts agree that this is “definitely a big boy shoe,” most of them stop short of saying that it is a “complete performance beast.” The good news is that there is still a wide array of excellent basketball shoes to choose from for less than $200.

See our full review and facts

Best Jordan basketball shoes for ankle support

3 colorways available

Air Jordan XXXVI

3 colorways available

Unisex

$185 from Nike Best price from 53 retailers >

Top pick

The Air Jordan XXXVI is not perfect, but it does not have real performance issues either. It effortlessly checks all the right boxes, and its wearer is guaranteed to have a really good time on the hard court. Quite frankly, it won't be surprising if this shoe tops the list of the most preferred basketball shoes in 2021.

See our full review and facts

4 colorways available

Jordan Why Not Zer0.4

4 colorways available

Unisex

$130 $105 from Champs Sports Best price from 53 retailers >

Also great

See our full review and facts

Best Adidas basketball shoes for ankle support

14 colorways available

Adidas Dame 7

14 colorways available

Unisex

$110 $64 from Amazon Best price from 53 retailers >

Top pick

The Dame 7 has “no serious weaknesses,” but experts can’t stop comparing it to others that are better. Although a “very solid shoe” and a “jack of all trades,” the Dame 7 is still “master of none;” and it still doesn’t make it as the players’ favorite.

See our full review and facts

28 colorways available

Adidas Pro Model 2G

28 colorways available

Unisex

$100 $48 from Amazon Best price from 53 retailers >

Also great

The updated Adidas Pro Model 2G looks and performs just as well as the original. The herringbone traction provides a reliable grip no matter the court condition. The Pro Model 2G’s updated Bounce midsole also offers cushioned comfort all day long. All in all, these retro basketball sneakers are a steal for its price. Fans of the original are delighted with how these Adidas shoes turned out.

See our full review and facts

Best budget basketball shoes for ankle support

3 colorways available

Nike Fly.By Mid 2

3 colorways available

Men

Women

$65 from Nike Best price from 53 retailers >

Top pick

The Nike Fly.By Mid 2 is an inexpensive option for basketball players of all skill levels. Both competitive and recreational players will appreciate the shoe tech in the Nike Fly.By Mid 2. It is not a shoe for the “professional” player or even high-level athletes who require precise shoe technology. It does give you the essential features like above-average traction, good upper materials, snug fit around the ankle, and flexible cushioning.

See our full review and facts

5 colorways available

Nike Renew Elevate 2

5 colorways available

Unisex

$80 $76 from Nike Best price from 53 retailers >

Also great

Because it's quite affordable, the Nike Renew Elevate 2 is used by many people, though not always for basketball. Some use it at work, some use it as their shoes for walking. Hence, we can't say just yet that this Nike budget model is indeed good for on-court action. Even so, getting it just because of its reported functional versatility won't be such a bad idea.

See our full review and facts

What are the most popular basketball shoes for ankle support in 2022?

See all basketball shoes for ankle support sorted by popularity

What are the cheapest basketball shoes for ankle support in 2022?

See all basketball shoes for ankle support sorted by lowest price

Author

Dimitrije Curcic

Dimitrije Curcic has been playing basketball for over 22 years. Like Manu Ginobili, he’s a left-hander whose moves led him to a better career-shooting percentage than the Argentine himself. After playing professionally for 10 years, Dimitrije moved to coaching for two seasons before he became a basketball statistician for StatScore, and FanSided contributor for the San Antonio Spurs. Dimitrije loves to tell hoop stories through numbers and graphics and has been featured on Fansided, FiveThirtyEight, Eurohoops, and TalkBasket among the others.