7 Best Low Top Nike Basketball Shoes in 2024

LeBron is known for his aggressive and confident playstyle, and his shoes are ready to match it. We played for hours in the LB 22 and conducted loads of tests in our lab, so we can assure you it totally deserves our number 1 as the best low-top Nike basketball shoe.

A low-top design does not mean a hooper is less supportive. In fact, the surefootness and containment we felt during our play tests with the LB 22 were fantastic. We verified it manually when we couldn’t even twist it a little bit, so it scored a perfect 5/5 on our torsional rigidity test. But that's not all, as its stiff materials needed 44.1N to reach 90 degrees, which is way higher than average!

Alongside this unforgiving structure, we enjoyed lots of lockdown and surefootedness, which also come from the high-quality materials it features. This Nike pair earned a 4/5 in both our toebox and heel padding durability tests, so apart from being supportive, its leather upper is also really sturdy.

But there's a price to pay: breathability. This LB model could only get a 1/5, which is the lowest score. People whose feet tend to sweat a lot should go for something else.

The Sabrina 2 is an ace of all trades. Its playability and performance during our wear tests left us in awe, but the best part is that our lab tests verified it all with our data. After studying its outsole and checking how it unforgivably bit every court, we decided to give it our gold medal as the low-top Nike basketball shoe with the best traction.

When we pressed our durometer against this hooper's bottom, it returned 71.9 HC. This softer result harmoniously matched our experience, as the traction we experienced was fantastic. The outsole features the all-time-favourite herringbone pattern, which has a multidirectional design that let us move confidently.

The best part is that, despite how soft the rubber compound is, it didn't give up on its battle against the Dremel. At 10K RPM and with 2N of force, the tool drilled the material as much as it could, yet it ended up with an average 1.1 mm deep dent.

Nevertheless, even though this pair proved its traction works wonders no matter where we play, we believe it might not be the best for streetball. For constant use on abrasive courts, it’s better to go for a shoe with a more durable outsole.

In RunRepeat, we don't simply take the shoes to our lab and cut them into two to analyze them. We also wear-test every single pair! After many hours studying the G.T. Hustle 3, our data and experience have made us give it the title of the low-top Nike basketball shoe with the best cushioning.

It all starts with its midsole. At 32.8/26.8 mm on the heel and forefoot respectively, our caliper indicated it's way higher than average. Apart from being away from the harshness of the court whenever we landed, our feet also enjoyed the two Zoom Units this shoe features in the forefoot. They offered great energy return and a soft base to land on.

These kicks also feature a fantastic 8.2 mm insole. It's a solid 44% thicker than average, which translated into an incredibly comfortable ride on indoor and outdoor courts. Last but not least, a midfoot shank keeps this tall structure in place, offering some extra pop and support.

Nevertheless, as the impact protection of the G.T. Hustle 3 is superb thanks to its cushioning, feeling the court under the feet is not something that should be expected from it.

Our wear and lab tests have demonstrated the G.T. Cut 3 deserves its hard-earned "best agility" title among the Nike low-top basketball shoes. Its exceptionally light and nimble structure, alongside the technologies of its midsole, made our choice pretty easy.

When we put this Nike shoe on our scale, it returned 11.8 oz/335 g, which is a crazy low weight. This featherlike feeling in our feet translated into quick footwork during our games, which was favored by the plush ZoomX. This foam provided us with amazing energy return and very explosive toe-offs, which contributed to our fast-paced playstyle.

The midsole protected us from the constant impacts, offering great court feel. At 27.0/21.5 mm on the heel and forefoot stacks, we felt closer to the court and in control of our moves, which enhanced our precision despite the speed. The cherry on top was the amazing grip this Nike pair offered on clean courts, so we didn't slip even if we went for aggressive cuts.

The only problem here is that this agile shoe has an upper that, despite being durable, lacks the expected support for quick cuts.

Our feet knew this shoe felt nimble and our lab confirmed it, so our experience and data agreed on crowning the Freak 6 as the best lightweight hooper among low-top models.

When we took it to our lab and put it on our scale, it returned 12.31 oz/349g, which is way lower than average. This translated into quick footwork and dribbles, yet for such a low weight, the brand made sure we had enough lateral support. With a solid 5/5 and 4/5 on both our torsional rigidity and heel counter stiffness tests, the low-top design of this hooper translated into stability and ankle mobility.

The best part is that we could jump and land safely thanks to its wide midsole. When we measured its width at the forefoot, our caliper returned 119.1 mm, which is quite a lot. Despite its width and overall padded structure (including the tongue at 9.5 mm), we never felt like this Giannis pair dragged our feet down.

The Zoom Air unit it features under the ball of the foot also helped to get that fast feel. Nevertheless, that’s the only technology it has, as it doesn't even have a shank, which made us feel pretty unsupported underfoot.

After our wear and lab tests, we have enough evidence to say the Ja 2 is the best Nike basketball shoe for beginners. This hooper offers a little bit of everything, yet nothing too specific…which is ideal for people who've just picked up the sport!

When we cut it in half in our lab, we saw it had a bouncy Air Zoom unit at the ball of the foot. We really felt it during our games, as it pushed us forward after every layup. Its solid structure gave us the surefootedness and confidence we needed to go for moves like that one, as it scored a 4/5 on both our torsional rigidity and heel counter stiffness tests.

This supportive design features a breathable upper that got a fantastic 4/5 on our smoke test, so our feet could breathe happily when we played. Last but not least, this ventilation unusually pairs up with a durable design. This Nike pair got an average 3/5 on both our toebox and heel padding Dremel tests, which is not so bad. The outsole finished the battle against the tool with a standard 1.1 mm deep dent, so we can't really complain about durability.

Even though it's not among Nike's budget models, the Ja 2 felt quite cheap when we put it on. If you're looking for a premium hooper, you should skip this one.

Based on our games and lab tests, we've found the Precision 7 is the best budget pair among Nike low-cost basketball shoes. Its wonderfully crafted design makes it an all-rounder that doesn't feel like an economical hooper at all!

For a start, its upper offers a healthy mix of top-tier breathability and high-quality durability, as it scored a perfect 5/5 on both our breathability and toebox durability tests. Despite the toughness of the recycled materials it features, this Nike has an incredibly lightweight design. According to our scale, it stands at a feathery 11.61 oz/329g!

Its balanced upper comes with a grippy and durable outsole. Our caliper returned 4.4 mm when we measured the outsole thickness, which means there's enough material to withstand the abrasion of harsh courts. The best part is that our Dremel could only eliminate 0.9 mm of this rubber compound, making it more durable than average.

However, at 27.3/20.9 mm, the Precision 7's midsole stack is neither high enough nor does it have the technologies to offer proper impact protection. Even though it doesn't feel like it, it's a budget shoe after all.