7 Best Cheap Basketball Shoes, 90+ Shoes Tested in 2023

Getting more for less is always appealing. Because of this, brands such as Adidas, Under Armour, and even industry leader Nike make cheap basketball shoes available for everyone.
We have reviewed over 70 shoes under $100 to find which ones have the best performance in this price range. And we were surprised to find that in some aspects, these shoes come very close to their more expensive counterparts.
How we test basketball shoes
The best cheap basketball shoes among all these are then determined by ranking them according to their Corescore. A corescore is an aggregate numerical assessment that is based on reviews by players, expert reviewers, and even ordinary users. We spent hours scouring the web for these.
To create the list below, we got the ratings and opinions of 109 experts and about 12,400 users. Their views and comments were posted on social media, video hosting websites, retailer sites, and other platforms.
Best cheap basketball shoes overall
Pros
- True to size
- Comfy, snug fit
- No break-in period
- Close to ground contact
- Breathable
- Impressive lockdown
- Light
- Affordable
Cons
- Outsole needs constant wiping
- Not for outdoor play
What makes it the best overall?


Best basketball shoes
Corescore
Pros
- Side-to-side containment
- True to size
- Thin but durable materials
- Comfortably padded tongue
- Smooth heel-to-toe transition
- OK for outdoors
- Easy on-off
- Stylish
Cons
- Dust-prone outsole
- Lacking impact protection
- Barely there court feel
- Break-in needed
What makes it the best outdoor?
Best low top cheap basketball shoes
Corescore
Pros
- Dependable traction
- Balanced cushioning
- Lightweight
- Stylish look
- OK for outdoors
Cons
- Support issues
- Lackluster materials
- Needs break-in
What makes it the best low top?
Best mid top cheap basketball shoes
Corescore
Pros
- Superb comfort on & off the court
- Clean & classic look
- Reliable traction
- Great cushioning
- Excellent lockdown
- Good for casual wear
- Great for guard positions
Cons
- Needs break-in
- Narrow toe box
What makes it the best mid top?
Best basketball shoes
Corescore
Pros
- Dope-looking
- Flawless
- Premium quality leather
- Comfortable cushioning
- Multisurface grip
- Worth the money
Cons
- Limited color options
- Looks different from the original
What makes it the best ankle support?
Best value cheap basketball shoes
Corescore
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
What makes it the best value?
Most popular cheap basketball shoes
Pros
- Dependable bite on the court
- Nice heel impact protection
- Plenty of forefoot court feel
- Durable upper
- Comfortable materials
- Reliable support and stability
- Smooth steps
- Affordable
Cons
- Too stretchy upper
- Narrow fit
- Questionable durability
What makes it the most popular?
Which basketball shoes are considered “cheap”?
Here at RunRepeat, we consider “cheap” the bottom 25% based on SRP. Out of the bottom 25%, Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour offer the most number of cheap shoes.
What makes up the top cheap basketball shoes
Generally, cheap basketball shoes are made from materials that are less expensive and far more common than the ones used on more expensive options. The table below summarizes some of the most commonly used materials across brands.
|
Material |
Description |
Cushion |
Old Cushioning Technologies |
Cheaper basketball shoes make use of old technologies. A good example is Nike’s Air technology, which is light and comfortable. |
EVA Foam |
Closed cell ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer foam or EVA is among the most commonly used material for midsoles primarily because it is durable, water-resistant, and comfortable. |
|
Upper |
Synthetic fabric |
The upper of cheap basketball shoes also need to be durable, hence synthetic fabrics are usually used. |
Artificial rubber |
The upper material is sometimes reinforced or infused with much cheaper artificial rubber such as neoprene to ensure comfort. |
Best basketball shoes for less
Cheap basketball shoes, even the best among them, can be classified into three categories. You can easily remember them with this acronym: NOT Expensive.
Non-signature models are not less pricey simply because no big name is attached to them, so there is no need to pay a premium for that personality’s brand.
Shoe models, hailed and sought after during their time, will eventually be replaced with newer and touted to be innovative ones. But new is not always better; older models, even with their price cuts, can still hold their own on the court.
Brands, in their efforts to appeal to a much wider audience, purposefully produce basketball shoes that are cheaper. They are often referred to as takedown models.
Cheap signature basketball shoes
To widen their reach, some basketball stars work closely with brands to come up with their own takedown basketball shoe releases.
LeBron James. Aside from his main LeBron line, which released its 17th shoe in 2019, The King LeBron James also has a takedown line known as the Soldier, which already made its 13th release in.
Kyrie Irving. Besides the main Kyrie line, shooting guard Kyrie Irving also has a series of budget basketball shoes called the Kyrie Flytrap. As of the first half of 2020, it made its third release.
Kobe Bryant. The late Kobe Bryant also drops budget-friendly basketball shoes every now and then. The Nike Mamba Fury is the first one to release since his death in January 2020.
When you go for less pricey signature basketball shoes, always consider your style of play. If you are a big man who takes on the center and power forward position, you’d need a shoe with more cushioning. LeBron’s basketball shoes can help you with this.
However, if you are a guard who needs a more pronounced feel of the court, Kobes and Kyries are what you need. Otherwise, you can go for cheap basketball shoes with great traction and court feel.
When is the best time to buy cheap basketball shoes?
Basketball shoes can also come significantly discounted; if you know when to shop for them, that is!
Buying at clearance sales are among the most obvious ways to get basketball shoes at significantly discounted rates. Clearance sales usually happen right after big events when retailers scramble to bring their inventories back to normal.
Speaking of big events, the retailer’s anniversary day or week is usually a period of generous discounts, especially for their loyal customers. Celebrations that push people to shop such as Christmas also bring prices down.
You can also get basketball shoes for less upon the release of a new model in a basketball shoe line. The price of the one that the new release replaces will surely be brought down to entice buyers to at least consider buying it.