7 Best Basketball Shoes in 2024
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Basketball involves running, jumping, quick stops, and abrupt direction changes. Regular athletic sneakers can support some of these movements, but only the right basketball shoes can handle them all.
Some hoop shoes are perfect all-rounders and are suitable for most playing styles and positions, while others excel in a specific characteristic like grip or cushioning. With numerous options available on the market, we are here to guide you in choosing the best option that matches your needs and preferences.
After thoroughly testing basketball shoes in our lab and on the court, we highlighted the best picks across different categories.
How we test basketball shoes
To come up with our list of the best basketball shoes:
- We purchase the shoes with our own funds so that we can proceed to review them with total fairness.
- We play and hoop in these shoes on both indoor and outdoor courts.
- Last but not least, we put these pairs through over 20 lab tests, where we dissect and scrutinize them more deeply.
In our reviews, you can find the result of this approach: what a combination of personal tests and lab tests delivers.
Best basketball shoes overall
What makes it the best?
Following the results of our games and lab tests, we found the LeBron 21 is a top performer. It features incredible cushioning technologies, high-quality materials, a supportive design, and a wonderful mix of bounce and shock absorption. That’s why it can stand proud as our #1 overall among the hoopers we’ve reviewed so far.
At 26.6/22.4 mm, our caliper indicates its stack height is closer to the ground than average. But its Zoom Turbo and Zoom Air technologies in the midsole create bouncy toe-offs and cushioned landings. We could feel this during our playtests, as it translated into better move control (when we performed complicated dribbles) and a more aggressive playstyle (more daring jumps and layups).
This was possible thanks to the stable nature of the LeBron 21. At 120.5 mm, our caliper told us what our feet already knew: there’s a lot of space to land comfortably. But these Nikes added yet another ingredient to their “Best overall” recipe: high-quality materials. This improved the containment and lockdown feel, as well as the shoe’s overall durability. Our Dremel could barely scratch this model’s toebox, which got a 5/5 in our durability test.
While the LeBron 21 is a beast on the court, it didn't only bite the surface but also our feet. This pair’s break-in period is rough and long. If you don’t feel like dealing with blisters, it might be better for you to explore more out-of-the-box comfortable options.
Pros
- Wonderful performance overall
- Amazing cushioning technologies
- Nice bounce and shock absorption
- High-quality materials
- Great stability and supportive design
- Good twist resistance
- Effective grip
- Eye-catching style
Cons
- Not breathable
- Rough and long break-in period
- Pricey
Basketball shoes with the best traction
What makes it the best?
After hours and hours of being our guinea pig, we discovered the Adidas Harden Volume 8 has the best traction among the grippy beasts of the court. This, alongside its incredible foot containment and stability, made us feel confident and surefooted every time we played.
Aggressive and explosive moves such as quick cuts or fast layups were a piece of cake. This gave us the confidence we needed to go for more daring plays, as the Vol 8 wouldn't let go of the court even if it was dusty. In fact, we played basketball indoors and outdoors during our wear tests, yet this Adidas shoe bit the floor and wouldn't let go. Regarding traction, this new Harden model is just otherwordly.
The best part is that the safety a good traction provides came hand in hand with wonderful foot containment, support, and stability in this hooper. Its foot-hugging structure earned a 3/5 on both our torsional rigidity and heel counter stiffness tests. Even though it isn't the highest score, it was enough for our feet to feel safe and avoid a painful break-in period.
What's more, the Vol 8 earned a 4/5 on both our toebox and heel padding durability tests, showing it can withstand constant use. The only problem is that it's heavier than average, so it doesn't feel fast on foot.
Pros
- Excellent foot containment
- Crazy good traction
- Fantastic shock-absorption and bounce
- Feels very stable
- Incredibly comfortable from minute 1
- Supportive heel area
- Smooth heel-to-toe transitions
- Very easy to put on and off
Cons
- Not a fast shoe
- Not for wide feet
- Not for streetball
Basketball shoes with the best cushioning
What makes it the best?
Backed up by our basketball games and lab results, the G.T. Jump 2 offers some of the best impact protection we’ve ever tried. This Nike cushioning monster made every landing cloud-like, and we could happily forget about any obstacles that tried to mess with our jumps - that’s why it’s our best cushioned hooper!
To know more about its wonderful cushioning, we grabbed our caliper and measured its stack height at 35.6/29.2 mm. It’s one of the tallest hoopers we’ve ever tried! When we cut it in half, we discovered it’s got Nike React foam at the rearfoot, which made sure our feet had happy landings every single time. It also comes with a full-length Zoom Air strobel under the insole, so apart from being comfortable it’s also responsive.
Our durometer confirmed what we felt on the court: the midsole is 60% plusher than average at 16.0 HA. Also, the brand added a second foam so our feet wouldn’t sink into infinity. This EVA is 130% firmer than the React foam. We gave this Nike a 5/5 in our torsional rigidity test too, which goes in line with the safe and stable feeling our ankles enjoyed during our games.
Nevertheless, at 15.59 oz (442g), this shoe is substantially heavier than average. It might suit centres and bigger players that need some extra cushioning underfoot. But we felt its weight during our games, so if you’re a guard looking for a nimble pal, this isn’t it.
Pros
- Extra powerful energy return
- Outstanding impact protection
- Dependable grip on clean courts
- Solid support and stability
- Very secure foothold
- Highly breathable upper
- Fits to a T
Cons
- Zero court feel
- Not for outdoor courts
- Heavier than average
Basketball shoes with the best stability
What makes it the best?
Thanks to the data we collected from our lab and wear tests, we can confidently say the Jordan Luka 3 is the basketball shoe with the best stability. Its solid upper materials, wonderfully padded interiors, and IsoPlate make sure foot containment and lockdown are stellar.
Our Dremel could barely damage the toebox and the heel padding, as this pair got a 4/5 on both durability tests. This means the materials used are long-lasting, and its immovable 5/5 on our torsional rigidity test confirmed they wouldn't give up on our feet easily.
Its IsoPlate also helped, as it offered extra points on lateral stability during our games. When we landed after fighting for a rebound, its midsole made sure we didn't lose our balance. It's wider yet lower than average (at 117.3 mm and 27.0 mm respectively, according to our caliper) which enhances the shoe's overall stability.
The thing with the Luka 3 is that it doesn't feature any specific technologies from the brand despite its price. If you're looking for crazy energy return or bounce, this ain't it.
Pros
- Absolutely insane traction
- Great support and lockdown
- Cushlon 3.0 that gives some extra pop
- Stable jumps thanks to the IsoPlate
- Good mix of impact protection and court feel
- Generously padded yet spacious interiors
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Roomy toebox
- Recycled materials
Cons
- Feels cheap for its price
- Doesn't have any specific Nike technologies
- Not for streetball
Best lightweight basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Very stable overall
- Great lockdown and containment
- Zoom Air unit in the forefoot
- Springy and bouncy
- Pretty good court feel on a low profile
- Feels speedy on foot
- Amazing grip
- Really versatile (positionless)
Cons
- Not the most supportive
- Outsole lacks durability
Best basetball shoes for outdoor courts
What makes it the best?
Our experience and lab assessments tell us that the Cosmic Unity 3 from Nike is above all other basketball shoes in outdoor playability. We found that this shoe is above average when it comes to its outsole hardness, making it perfectly suitable for outdoor usage. Besides outdoor-worthiness, this Nike shoe was also a bomb because of its amazingly consistent bite and impressively durable upper.
We confidently used this shoe outdoors because we felt the unrelenting firmness of its rubber sole. Our findings on the HC durometer showed that the rubber material possessed a higher level of hardness (86.5) in contrast to the typical number (81.5). The harder the rubber, the longer it lasts in our experience.
When it comes to traction, the Nike Cosmic Unity 3 is an awe-inspiring beast. Aside from being consistent on both indoor and outdoor courts, we were amazed by how resistant it was to dust. The sole gripped the floors so well, even if we did not wipe it much.
The third thing that gives the Cosmic Unity 3 the edge over other shoes was the amazing durability of its toebox. In the lab, we performed the standard Dremel test. We saw that 12 seconds of high-pressure drilling barely left a mark on the material, pushing us to give it a perfect 5 for durability.
One thing that made us a bit concerned was its weight. It is indeed heavier than average (14.22 oz or 403g) at 15.66 oz or 444g.
Pros
- Perfect for outdoor courts
- Outstandingly durable
- One of the most stable shoes
- Wide platform
- Very secure lockdown
- Reliable traction on all courts
- Breathable enough
- Sustainable materials
Cons
- Firm sole with poor impact protection
- Heavier than average
- Break-in needed
Best budget basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Fantastic stability and support
- Quite springy
- Wide landing platform
- Incredible lock-in feel
- Pretty speedy on foot
- Great grip on any surface
- Super versatile (positionless)
- Excellent value for money
Cons
- Not for wide feet
- Not enough impact protection
- Not for streetball
Why get basketball shoes?
Logic says that because basketball involves a lot of running, it’s OK to play in your trusty running shoes. They’ve got traction. They’ve got a cushion. They even promise durability. But are these in the right amounts?
As opposed to running shoes, good basketball shoes provide the following:
- great multi-directional traction
- more lateral and ankle support
- more stable and grounded cushioning
Great multi-directional traction
Basketball needs good traction because of the complex footwork that it requires. There are quick stops, jumping, and a lot of lateral actions. These are high-intensity movements that a shoe designed for running is not prepared for.
More lateral and ankle support
A good basketball shoe withstands immense pressure from aggressive movements. The extra torsional stiffness and higher, more padded collar make this possible.
More stable and grounded cushioning
Because of the complexity of their footwork, basketball players need to feel the court.
Too much cushion can lead to dangerous movement miscalculations, slips, and falls. That's why basketball shoes on average have thinner and firmer midsoles compared to running shoes.
Average heel stack | Average forefoot stack | Average softness* | |
Basketball shoes | 30 mm | 21.5 mm |
26.2 HA (10% firmer than running shoes) |
Running shoes | 33.5 mm | 24.5 mm | 23.6 HA |
*based on the HA durometer measurement where the smaller number means softer.
Choosing basketball shoes based on playing position
Let us start by saying that this categorization is very vague. As the sport evolves, players are moving away from fixed positions and the corresponding clear-cut basketball shoe designs. We are seeing lighter folks playing centers and shifty guards reaching for sturdier and more supportive shoes. At the end of the day, your shoe choice is your personal preference.
So why do you need this section then?
By putting all the shoes we've tested into three baskets (pun intended), we hope to provide some brief guidelines to beginner players who may be lost in numerous options to choose from.
Because each basketball position involves certain types of court movements, athletes will find that some shoes benefit their playing style more than others.
Guards
Guards tend to be more agile, shifty, and aggressive on the court which calls for the following basketball shoe features:
- strong multi-directional traction (to support their quick and shifty playing style)
- responsive midsole (lower stack for better court feel and speed)
- solid side support (for lateral cuts, crossovers, pull-up jumpers)
- light/bottom-light shoes (to keep up with the nimble footwork)
Famous guards: Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Derrick Rose, Luka Doncic, Allen Iverson, Russell Westbrook, LaMelo Ball, Trae Young, Ja Morant
Forwards
Forwards are highly versatile players who contribute both offensively and defensively. They shoot both from far away and close up, throw passes, perform rebounds, and take layups. Thus, they should expect the following features from their hoop shoes:
- strong multi-directional traction (for every possible court situation)
- great cushioning and impact protection (be it driving toward the basket for a shot or performing the highest vertical jumps)
- solid ankle support (to feel confident and surefooted)
Famour forwards: LeBron James, Zion Williamson, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum.
Centers
Most often the biggest players on the team, these guys and gals swat away shots from the opponent, catch rebounds, and perform aggressive post-ups.
Traditionally, this position involved attacking and defending only at the rim, but the modern game demands centers to be more versatile, both near the basket and further away from it. That's why you can see more shoes in the grey area that can work for both forwards and centers.
Here is what you should look for in a perfect basketball shoe for centers:
- tons of impact protection (even though centers tend to get lighter, these folks rarely weigh lighter than 240 lbs (110 kg) and they do need that cushioning to manage stress on the joints)
- high-end stability (to maintain balance during intense plays)
- strong ankle support (to prevent injuries during physical encounters under the hoop)
- mid-top collar (even though higher collars don't prevent ankle sprains, big guys still prefer high collars for braces or to feel extra material around the ankle)
Famous centers: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Shaquille O’Neal
Court feel vs. impact protection
It is a rule of thumb that agile guards need a more intimate foot connection with the court while powerful forwards and centers need tons of cushioning. But there is also a lot of grey area in between.
To help you figure out how each basketball shoe feels underfoot, we cut each one in half in our lab to measure its heel and forefoot stack heights (a.k.a. cushioning thickness).
Based on the data from dozens of dissected midsoles, we found that you can expect a better court feel from shoes with the following characteristics:
- heel stack lower than 28 mm
- forefoot stack lower than 24 mm
The opposite can be applied to shoes that provide more generous cushioning and impact absorption.
Finding the best fit in basketball shoes
Of course, getting the right basketball shoe size is essential to maximizing your performance. But what’s not so obvious are the factors that affect your size-related decisions.
Even within the same brand, different basketball shoe models can have a different amount of toebox space.
In our lab, we measure both the widest part of each shoe's forefoot and the narrower part near the big toe. This gives us a better idea of the given shoe's toebox shape. That way, you can adjust by ordering half-size bigger or smaller.
For all the big guys out there, here is our list of the roomiest basketball shoes.
You might as well want to check New Balance basketball shoes in wide (2E) width. According to the brand's size and width chart, the men's 2E width offers an additional 3-4 mm of width compared to the standard D medium width. It is one of those very few brands that release hoop shoes in multiple widths.
Indoor or outdoor: get the right hoop shoe
The basketball shoe industry is largely driven by the NBA. As such, brands rarely release shoes that are deliberately meant for outdoor hooping.
But if you often play outdoors, here are a few characteristics of an outdoor-ready shoe:
We keep a category of hoop shoes that are suitable for outdoor courts in a separate category for your convenience. Before approving a shoe for outdoor use, we perform a series of tests on its outsole:
- hardness of the rubber
- wear resistance of the rubber
- thickness of the outsole
Low-top or mid-top collar?
Up until 2008, basketball shoes have been synonymous with high collars. But it all started to change with the introduction of Kobe Bryant's first low-top signature shoe.
Low-tops quickly gained popularity among agile players whose playing style revolved around quick direction changes. This is all thanks to the greater freedom of ankle movement.
But the trend went even further, as the legendary power forward LeBron James himself introduced the low-top LeBron 20 in 2022.
In our extensive research of over 30 studies on the topic, we found NO scientific evidence proving that the height of a basketball shoe collar affects athletic performance or the change of ankle/foot injury.
Thus, it all comes down to personal preference. And these days, there is a sea of options for both low-top and mid-top hoop shoes.
But aside from the collar height, there are even more important characteristics that make a shoe more supportive and potentially lower the risk of ankle sprains:
- High torsional rigidity
- Wide base with an outrigger
- Stiff heel counter
- Secure lockdown
- Grounded platform
- Solid traction
See our guide on the best basketball shoes for ankle support where we provide more detailed information on the topic and highlight our top picks in this supportive category.