5 Best Jordan Basketball Shoes in 2024
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Michael Jordan was a Nike athlete until he became too much to handle and the name "Jordan" became a brand of its own. Now a separately operated company, the Jordan brand keeps on producing the illustrious Air Jordans year after year. On top of that, the company also produces signature shoes for the likes of Russell Westbrook and Zion Williamson. Of course, there are also non-signature releases and highly celebrated retros.
Given that, there are around a hundred Jordan shoes to choose from at any given time. Picking the most suitable one can really be overwhelming. To ease the burden of buyers like you, we lay bare here the best Jordan basketball shoes that we have personally examined. We have tested these shoes and we exerted all our time, money, and effort in doing so.
How we test basketball shoes
We spare no effort in critiquing each Jordan basketball shoe. We do both quantitative and descriptive analyses by conducting tests inside and outside our lab.
Before all else, we shop for the basketball shoes we want to test. We stick to this rule to avoid getting attached to any brand or third-party entities, leading to favouritism.
We then wear the shoes during actual basketball games. We evaluate every angle of the shoe in different settings and situations. For example, we explain how shoes respond to offence or defence motions in indoor and outdoor courts.
We also get down to nerdy stuff inside our lab. We perform various tests on the shoes to measure their different parameters. We go all out by dissecting the shoes.
Best Jordan basketball shoes overall
What makes it the best?
The Air Jordan XXXVIII is a top performer that excels in most categories. After thoroughly testing it in both our lab and the court, we can confidently say it deserves the throne as the best Jordan basketball shoe overall.
During our playtests, we felt this hooper adapted to different playstyles thanks to its premium design. Its solid mid-top structure proved its effectiveness in our lateral stability test, giving our ankles a snug and locked-in fit. It also scored the highest punctuation in our torsional rigidity and heel counter stiffness tests (5/5), proving its worth as a wonderfully supportive pair.
Its premium design comes with premium materials, which give these Jordans top-notch durability. In our Dremel tests, the heel counter and upper outperformed the average with their scores: 4/5 and 5/5, respectively.
The best part is that its structured nature doesn’t come with extra weight. Our scale marked 13.9 oz/394g, which is average, and this mid-top model felt quite light on our feet. The most surprising part was when we cut it in half in our lab and saw a full-length Cushlon 3.0 foam and a Zoom Air Strobel on top of it. This also didn’t add any weight, and it was incredibly comfortable and quite bouncy. Additionally, the carrier foam made sure our feet were stable during our games.
Nevertheless, at 4.0 mm, our calliper indicated the AJ XXXVIII’s outsole is not thick enough for streetball. Additionally, its non-aggressive pattern might wear out sooner than expected, losing wearability and traction.
Pros
- Unmatched stability and support
- Extra secure foot containment
- Outstanding dust-proof grip
- Excellent impact protection
- Very grounded platform
- Light for a mid-top shoe
- Surprising breathability
- Top-notch durability
Cons
- Not for outdoor courts
- Heel is not as stable as the forefoot
Jordan basketball shoes with the best stability
What makes it the best?
After hours and hours of tests inside and outside our lab, trying the shoes on our own feet, we can assure you that the Luka 3 is the Jordan pair with the best stability. Its traction, support, midsole, and IsoPlate all work together to make this happen.
At 20.9 mm both in the heel and in the forefoot, this shoe's midsole is lower than average, which equals more stability. A spacious base means stable landings, and the Luka 3 is also wider than average: our calliper returned 117.3 mm when we measured the width of the forefoot.
Apart from that, this Jordan's materials are pretty tough, as the shoe scored a solid 5/5 on our heel counter and torsional rigidity tests. Part of this is thanks to the IsoPlate, which is a framing structure located on the outer side of the shoe. In other words, this shoe is well structured and great at ankle protection.
Nevertheless, even though it offers great traction that held us in place during our wear tests, it's not the best for streetball. Its materials are not the best to fight the abrasion of such sport, so we wouldn't recommend it.
Pros
- Absolutely insane traction
- Great support and lockdown
- Cushlon 3.0 that gives some extra pop
- Stable jumps thanks to the IsoPlate
- Good mix of impact protection and court feel
- Generously padded yet spacious interiors
- Comfortable in-shoe feel
- Roomy toebox
- Recycled materials
Cons
- Feels cheap for its price
- Doesn't have any specific Nike technologies
- Not for streetball
Jordan basketball shoes with the best court feel
What makes it the best?
After many hours of research, our feet and our lab results finally reached an agreement: the Tatum 2 is our king among the Jordan basketball shoes when it comes to the best court feel. We closely and thoroughly analysed its sole, checking its performance during our wear tests and cutting the shoe in half.
Our calliper measured a heel stack of 26.6 mm, which is 10% lower than average. But we wanted to know more, so we moved our tool up to the forefoot, where it marked 22.2 mm. Being this close to the court allowed our feet to perform more precise moves, and we felt more in control during our playtests. This translated into us trying more complex dribbles, which suits forwards’ (like Tatum himself) and guards’ typical playstyles.
A minimal drop of 4.4 mm was the cherry on top. As this Jordan’s base is incredibly levelled, our feet were almost flat on the floor, which allowed us to get the maximum response from the court. When we measured the stack height, we included the incredibly comfortable full-length Air Stroble, which improves cushioning; and the shoe's 3.1 mm thin but fairly durable outsole.
Nevertheless, this model’s flat feel might not be ideal for centres and/or big players, who might need a more cushioned and bouncy midsole.
Pros
- Very durable overall
- Nice lockdown feel
- A lot of court feel
- Improved outsole coverage
- Great lateral support
- Full-length Air Strobel
- Unique-retro design
- Affordable
Cons
- Feels pretty dull
- Dust magnet
- Very thin midsole
Jordan basketball shoes with the best support
What makes it the best?
After spending many hours in the lab and on the court, we discovered the Zion 3 is the best hooper regarding support among the most supportive Jordan pairs. Its incredibly tough and heavily padded structure bear-hugged our feet, making our confidence reach a whole new level.
Backdoor cuts and fake crossovers were a piece of cake thanks to its great side-to-side stability. What’s more, these tough upper materials scored a 4/5 and a 5/5 respectively on our toebox and heel padding durability tests. Consequently, the lockdown feel was fantastic.
The best part is that, despite its rugged materials, this Jordan pair is still pretty flexible. During our games, this translated into smooth transitions and easier fake shots. In our lab, our flex test proved us right when our force gauge returned 17.6N, which means the Zion 3 is a whole 55% more flexible than average.
The drawback of this shoe is that its snug and armour-like structure feels tight and doesn’t give in, so we believe it’s not suitable for wide feet.
Pros
- Pretty good traction on any court
- Very reinforced and durable upper
- Formula 23 foam with some bounce
- Wonderful side-to-side stability
- Snug fit with padded interiors
- Very comfortable
- Incredible lockdown feel
- Smooth and easy transitions
- Great ankle support
Cons
- Not for wide feet
- No toedrag protection
- Upper doesn't give in
Best budget Jordan basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
Pros
- Incredible lockdown and containment feel
- Bouncy Zoom Air unit
- Great shock absorption
- Pretty supportive
- Fantastic for rebounds
- Nice traction
- Doubles as a sneaker
Cons
- Not for wide feet
- Break-in period needed
- Outsole lacks durability