7 Best Adidas Basketball Shoes in 2023

Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic on
7 Best Adidas Basketball Shoes in 2023
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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

Adidas Dame 8
90
Superb!

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Dame 8 is another shoe from the Damian Lillard series that delivers on aspects that matter. It is supportive, bouncy, light, and offers a decent amount of court feel. However, it has serious issues with traction on dusty courts, which some players may consider as a deal-breaker.

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
Full review of Adidas Dame 8

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Unisex
Any color
Black/Maroon/Gold (GW1816)
Matama Purglo Versen (GY0383)
Core Black/Team Yellow/Vivid Red (HR1562)
signal cyan/silver metallic/shock cyan (GY6465)
White/Black/Grey (GY6462)
Black/White/Grey (GY6461)
White/Black/Red (GY0384)
Black (GZ4626)
More colors

Best Adidas mid top basketball shoes

What makes it the best?

Nimble guards and big players are going to have lots of fun playing in Adidas Harden Vol. 7 shoes. This basketball shoe's design effectively ensures control, energy return, and confidence. Hence, it does not come as a surprise that many players consider this one of the best shoes from Adidas in recent months.

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
Full review of Adidas Harden Vol. 7

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Men
Women
Any color
Better Scarlet/Core Black/Better Scarlet (GW4464)

Best Adidas low top basketball shoes

What makes it the best?

Trae Young's first signature shoe is a fair indoor performer. A major concern is that different versions of the shoe also perform differently. Buyers may want to dig deeper into the specs of the Adidas Trae Young 1 to make sure they get what they need.

Pros

  • Balanced cushioning
  • Versatile
  • Comfortable fit
  • Excellent support
  • Stylish
  • Guarantees compliments
  • Good traction

Cons

  • Not breathable
  • Not fit for wide-footed players
Full review of Adidas Trae Young 1

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Unisex
Any color
Black/Red/Yellow (GY3772)
Black (GZ4627)
White/Multicolor (GY0295)
Ice Blue/Footwear White-Red (H68997)
Core Black/Signal Orange/Sky Blue (GY0289)
Core White/Core Black/Solar Red (H68999)
White/Grey/Purple (GY0302)
Red/Bold Gold/Team Navy Blue (GX6815)
Semi Screaming Green/Vivid Red/Cloud White (GY0305)

Best Adidas high top basketball shoes

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Adizero Rose 1 Retro feels fast on the floor, and owners love the low-to-the-ground and responsive feel of the cushioned midsole. Its grippy outsole also allows them to explode like Derrick Rose. It is a great retro sneaker that delivers classic style and reliable performance. However, the UA Curry 7 and Adidas Harden Vol. 4 provide a better playing experience at almost the same price.

Pros

  • Fantastic performer
  • Amazing traction
  • Feels fast on the court
  • Comfortable upper
  • Appealing style
  • Supportive
  • Great quality

Cons

  • Outsole attracts dust
  • Minimal cushioning
Full review of Adidas Adizero Rose 1 Retro

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Men
Women
Any color
Scarlet/Cloud White/Core Black (G57744)
Team Yellow/Royal Blue/Team Yellow (FW3665)
Core Black/Cloud White/Scarlet (FW7591)
Black/Gold/Red (FW3137)

Best Adidas basketball shoes for outdoor

Adidas T-Mac 1
91
Superb!

What makes it the best?

Fans are happy that the T-Mac 1 makes a comeback. It still looks and feels pretty much like the original, so retro-lovers are not going to be disappointed. It still works on the court, especially for more aggressive players. Indeed, the T-Mac 1 from Adidas is proof that a shoe doesn't have to be loaded with new tech for it to work well on modern courts.

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
Full review of Adidas T-Mac 1

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Men
Women
Any color
Core Black/Royal Blue/Core Black (GY2404)
Royal Blue/Cloud White/Matte Silver (GY2402)
White/Black/Blue (FV6464)
Running White/Collegiate Green-Gold (FW3663)

Best value

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Harden Stepback 3 is good news to those who want to perform beastly on the courts without slashing their pockets too much. This shoe's got the chops needed for fast and decisive movements toward the basket, making it a good partner for players who want to take the offense to the next level. It is arguably one of the best picks in its price range.

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
Full review of Adidas Harden Stepback 3

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Unisex
Any color
Core Black/Cloud White/Core Black (GY8630)
Ecru Tint/Altered Amber/Magic Lime (GY6415)
Black/Dash Grey/Carbon (GY6416)
Magic Lime/Black/Black (GZ7241)
Oxiver Narhaz Casbla (GZ7240)
Ftwbla Narhaz Tincru (GW4215)
Core Black/Gold Metallic/Core Black (GY8631)
Team Solar Yellow/Team Shock Pink/Core Black (GY8634)

Comparison of the 7 best Adidas basketball shoes

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Best
CoreScore
Users rating
Experts
Best price
Ranking
Popularity
# of colorways

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.

adidas-dame-7-profile-picture.jpg

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.

 

James Harden

Donovan Mitchell

Damian Lillard

Derrick Rose

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.

adidas-dame-7-ontop-view.jpg

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.

 

Author
Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic

Dimitrije Curcic has been playing basketball for over 22 years. Like Manu Ginobili, he’s a left-hander whose moves led him to a better career-shooting percentage than the Argentine himself. After playing professionally for 10 years, Dimitrije moved to coaching for two seasons before he became a basketball statistician for StatScore, and FanSided contributor for the San Antonio Spurs. Dimitrije loves to tell hoop stories through numbers and graphics and has been featured on Fansided, FiveThirtyEight, Eurohoops, and TalkBasket among the others.