5 Best Expensive Basketball Shoes in 2023

These are the pretty expensive basketball shoes worn by NBA Legends, past and present, as well as trendsetters. To justify their hefty price, these models are much better equipped when it comes to traction, cushioning, energy return, and other cutting-edge shoe technologies.
Top-of-the-line basketball kicks are usually signature releases from leading brands such as Nike, Jordan, Adidas, PUMA, and Under Armour. You’ll also find haute-couture collabs of celebrities and star athletes, making the products palatable to fans even with whooping price tags.
To help you in your search, we’ve tested and reviewed 10+ of the best expensive basketball sneakers out there. We discussed all the pairs on this list, looking over their style, off-the-court reputation, and, of course, on-court performance. Keep on reading to find out more.
Best expensive basketball shoes overall


































What makes it the best?
A shoe that costs around $200 per pair should consistently prevent twists, have an amazing grip, and be made of durable materials. We say the Nike LeBron 20 is the best shoe in the higher price range because it delivers all of the mentioned benefits.
We did manual bending and twisting of this shoe, and we concluded that it is perfectly on the stiff side. It got a 5 out of 5 from us as far as resistance to bending is concerned. On the court, this shoe was just so supportive and protective from twists our feet felt like they were some heavily guarded VIPs.
Hours of playing showed that the bite was quite consistent. Dust didn’t even have the chance to interfere with the shoe’s traction performance. Whether we wanted to quickly change directions or just execute a quick sidestep, we always got the grip that we needed.
Another good thing to point out about the outsole rubber is its hardness, which we measured in our lab using an HC durometer. The result that we got is 82.6, making the rubber of the LeBron 20 slightly harder than the average 80.3. This hardness gives the shoe more durability.
The upper materials did not disappoint. The Dremel test revealed that they are quite sturdy. A fastly rotating sandpaper tool was placed against the toe area for four seconds, and the generated friction did not even get through the first layer. With this amount of pressure, other shoes have already started to break.
Regretfully, the upper sturdiness jeopardizes breathability. When we pumped smoke into the shoe, it did not escape through the upper as easily as we would have hoped. Hence, we recommend that players with sweaty feet stay away from the LeBron 20.
Pros
- Amazing overall performance
- Great traction
- Tremendous impact protection
- Pronounced court feel
- Dependable bounciness
- Comfortable upper
- Incredible foot containment
- Stylishly streamlined looks
Cons
- Not for outdoors
- Has to be broken in
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Expensive basketball shoes with the best fit adjustment







What makes it the best?
Pros
- True to size
- Nice fit
- Supportive
- Great traction
- Amazing lace engine
- Looks great
- Comfortable
Cons
- Little wobble
- Narrow
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Best expensive Kobe basketball shoes

What makes it the best?
Pros
- Good traction
- Breathable upper
- Phenomenal fit
- Quick, intuitive, secure lockdown
- Minimal foot fatigue
- Easy movement
- Aesthetically beautiful
Cons
- On the pricey range
- Not for wide feet
- Requires longer break-in period
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Expensive basketball shoes with the best support

What makes it the best?
Pros
- Very comfortable upper
- Amazing one-to-one fit
- Great support and lockdown
- Grip that works
- Effective cushioning system
- Nice craftsmanship
- Neat design
Cons
- Not for wide-footers
- Hard to put on
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Expensive basketball shoes with the best impact protection

What makes it the best?
Pros
- Bounce and impact protection
- Thin but durable upper
- Consistent traction
- Wraparound comfort
- Supportive one-to-one fit
- Effective support features
Cons
- Needs break in
- Heavy
- High off the ground
- Not for outdoors
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Comparison of the 5 best expensive basketball shoes
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How we test basketball shoes
We choose our top picks based on categories that matter to you. The selection process is one of the most comprehensive in the industry. It involves rigorous testing of each pair of shoes inside our RunRepeat shoe lab. We further test the shoes on the court, indoor and outdoor.
This is how we approach it:
- We buy all the expensive basketball shoes on this list from our own pocket. This eliminates any bias and ensures the objectivity of our reviews.
- We cut the models into pieces for in-depth analysis. We closely check and examine the cushioning system, traction, ankle support, energy return, and many more.
- We do plenty of wear tests on the court playing several games of hoops.