7 Best Basketball Shoes in 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.