7 Best Adidas Basketball Shoes in 2023
Adidas is a trusted brand when it comes to sportswear. The Three Stripes’ basketball shoes and other apparel always go neck to neck with the competing Nike products.
We got our hands on over 90 pairs of Adidas basketball shoes to find out which ones are the top performers.
How we test basketball shoes
Here at RunRepeat, we scour the web for basketball shoe reviews so that you won’t have to. Once all inputs are in, we come up with a CoreScore for each Adidas shoe to determine the top ten.
Best Adidas basketball shoes overall
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Good traction on clean courts
- Impact protection in the heel
- Forefoot responsiveness
- Secure lockdown
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Side-to-side stability
- Wide-foot friendly
- Okay for outdoor courts
Cons
- Dust magnet
- Fiddly heel lining
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Best Adidas mid top basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Super amazing traction on dustless courts
- Heel-to-toe transition is smooth
- Well-pronounced court feel
- Fairly dependable impact protection
- Comfortable and supportive heel area
- Very good overall containment
- Laces offers exceptional lockdown
- True-to-size fit
- Easy to put on and take off
Cons
- Ventilation has to be improved
- Not the best for outdoor use
- Shoe is on the heavier side
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Best Adidas low top basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Balanced cushioning
- Versatile
- Comfortable fit
- Excellent support
- Stylish
- Guarantees compliments
- Good traction
Cons
- Not breathable
- Not fit for wide-footed players
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Best Adidas high top basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Fantastic performer
- Amazing traction
- Feels fast on the court
- Comfortable upper
- Appealing style
- Supportive
- Great quality
Cons
- Outsole attracts dust
- Minimal cushioning
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Best Adidas basketball shoes for outdoor
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Dependable grip
- Solid support
- Reliable impact protection
- Durable construction
- Wide-footer friendly
- Good for outdoors
- Dope classic look
Cons
- Has to be broken in
- Seriously heavy
- Lacks ventilation
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Best value
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Excellent bite on the court
- A lot of court feel
- Good energy return
- Comfortable wraparound
- Sufficiently supportive
- Ergonomic design
- Fast break-in
- Value for money
Cons
- Not for outdoor use
- Dust-prone outsole
- Cheap-feeling materials
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Most popular Adidas basketball shoes
What makes it the most popular?
Pros
- Solid grip on clean floors
- Good ground feel
- Out-of-the-box comfort
- Lockdown support
- Stable platform
- Lighter than average
- Well-made
- Affordable
- Contains recycled materials
Cons
- Cushioning lacks bounce
- Dust-prone outsole
- Not for outdoor use
- Heel digs into Achilles
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Comparison of the 7 best Adidas basketball shoes
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Adidas signature basketball shoes
Let’s face it: no matter how versatile a basketball shoe is claimed to be, it’s never bound to please everybody. There will always be cushioning that is too hard or a material too flimsy; it all depends on the wearer’s physique and style of play.
Example: Adidas Dame 7 from the Damian Lilliard collection
Good thing that Adidas has four signature athletes that buyers can easily compare their profiles and playstyles against. Simply put, if a buyer’s descriptions match that of say, James Harden, then Harden shoes are probably the ones for him.
|
Profile |
6’5” 220 lbs Shooting/Point Guard |
6’3” 215 lbs Shooting Guard |
6’3” 195 lbs Point Guard |
6’3” 190 lbs Point Guard |
|
Playstyle |
focuses on quick footwork to trick defenders and create space |
similar to Dame’s and Wade’s shiftiness and drives. |
reliant on quick direction and speed changes and quick runs to the basket |
does a lot of jumps and on-court acrobatics |
All four of Adidas’s signature athletes are guards. Hence, their shoes are expected to pay particular focus on court feel and responsiveness to accommodate guards’ quick direction changes and sprints to the basket.
However, signature shoes for James Harden and Derrick Rose might be a bit friendlier to big men. Harden is himself a really big man, so it’s necessary to add a bit of cushion in the fray. Though Rose is relatively small, his acrobatics-infused jumpshots necessitate additional cushioning for more pronounced impact protection.
Adidas non-signature shoes: What are they good for?
Like Nike and Jordan, Adidas also resurrects old hoop shoes. One of the most notable is the Adidas Pro Model 2G. It is a reprise of a 2000s favorite, and its wearers include the then high school sensation LeBron James.
Aside from performance retros and sought-after basketball shoes for James Harden, Derrick Rose, Damian Lillard, and Donovan Mitchell, Adidas also has newly minted non-signature offers in its roster. They are often cheaper, so they are more appealing to a lot of buyers. Presented below are the two most noteworthy.
Adidas Marquee Boost
The first Marquee Boost debuted in late 2018. It immediately became one of the most talked about mid-top basketball shoes because of its use of one of Adidas’s most prized technologies: Boost.
Marquee Boost and its low-top version focus on balancing court feel and impact protection. The forefoot is made a little firmer to provide much needed response and court feel. The good old plushness of Boost is retained in the rear area to provide ample cushioning for heel strikes.
Adidas N3xt L3v3l
The N3XT L3V3L series is quite unique because of their laceless construction. Shoes from this line aim to be the most supportive without adding so much weight and bulk. The collection’s 2021 release features a data-driven Futurenatural construction to further ensure a secure and streamlined foot lockdown.
What sets the best Adidas basketball shoes apart
Adidas always gives Nike and other brands a run for their money because the Three Stripes take competition very seriously. Their product development labs are always busy producing shoe technologies that give Adidas hoop shoes their unique mark.
Cushioning technologies
|
Technology |
Description |
|
Adiprene |
Composed of specially developed EVA, Adiprene absorbs shock and provides sufficient energy return. |
|
Adiprene+ |
An enhanced version of Adiprene, Adiprene+ provides more energy rebound without sacrificing comfort. |
|
Boost |
Boost is made of thousands of expanded TPU particles. It provides energy return, comfort, durability, flexibility, and utility in a wide range of weather conditions. |
|
Bounce |
Bounce is firmer than Boost. It is infused with anti-collision protectors to maintain its integrity. |
|
Cloudfoam |
Cloudfoam is made of an EVA compound, making it plush and lightweight. It relieves pressure just like memory foam. |
|
Lightstrike |
Made of “super light” materials, Lighstrike aims to provide the perfect balance of impact protection and responsiveness. |
Upper technologies
|
Futurenatural |
Futurenatural is an innovative data-driven process that involves the production of a seamless one-piece upper for the best fit. This is first used on the Harden Vol. 5. |
|
Primeknit |
A Primeknit upper is purposefully knitted as a single piece to minimize stitching and gluing. It’s breathable and soft. |
|
Sprintframe |
Sprintframe is a light, supportive, and durable midfoot chassis. It is inspired by bridges’ ability to stably support massive weight. |
|
Sprintskin |
Made of durable synthetic, Sprintskin is designed to provide reinforcement and support for intense lateral movements. |
|
SprintWeb |
Sprintweb is a light, sturdy, and supportive structure used in the uppers of many Adidas performance models. |
