5 Best Low Top Basketball Shoes in 2023

Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic on
5 Best Low Top Basketball Shoes in 2023
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Basketball shoes are often said to be better off as high-tops because the high collar is there for more stability. However, scientific evidence does not support this notion. Low-top basketball shoes are reported to be as effective as mid-tops and high-tops on the court.

We went on to review over 100 low-top basketball shoes and discovered just how many excellent options there are among these low tops. From the cheaper ones to the premium models, we found shoes with outstanding grip, cushioning, and an overall sense of support.

How we test basketball shoes

Here at RunRepeat, we give each basketball shoe a CoreScore from 1-100. This score is an indicator of how liked the shoe generally is.

A corescore is computed by weighing in all the reviews that we could get. So far, we were able to get inputs from the following:

  • More than 800 expert reviewers via Youtube, their own blogs, and other platforms
  • More than 62,000 players and ordinary users who leave their comments and ratings on retailer sites. 

Given the extensiveness of our review, you can trust that each Corescore that we present is a comprehensive quantitative assessment of each low-top shoe for basketball.

Best low top basketball shoes overall

Nike Lebron 20
95
Superb!

What makes it the best?

The LeBron 20 definitely looks much more toned down, so it is visually different from the previous Nike LeBrons; yet, players note that its performance is as big as ever. It serves the need of not only players who want a lot of impact protection but also athletes who want to be agile on the court. It's already a bonus that this shoe has the looks for off-the-court action.

Pros

  • Amazing overall performance
  • Great traction
  • Tremendous impact protection
  • Pronounced court feel
  • Dependable bounciness
  • Comfortable upper
  • Incredible foot containment
  • Stylishly streamlined looks

Cons

  • Not for outdoors
  • Has to be broken in
Full review of Nike Lebron 20

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Unisex
Any color
White/metallic gold/black/univ (DJ5423100)
Orange (DJ5423800)
Light silver/hyper royal-lemon chiffon-safety orange (DJ5423002)
901 olive/brown-white (DV1193901)
Red (DV1193600)
Black/university red/universit (DJ5423001)
Violet frost/purple pulse/cany (DJ5423500)
Multi-color/Multi-color (DR8784900)
More colors

Best low top outdoor basketball shoes

What makes it the best?

The Nike Giannis Immortality 2 is a pleasant surprise for players who are fast and quite shifty on the basketball court. Many say that the whole design of the shoe is all about speed and control. It's good that many are going to experience the goodness that this signature shoe offers because of its fairly affordable price.

Pros

  • Really good traction
  • Quick-feeling cushioning setup
  • Smooth heel-to-toe transitions
  • Very lightweight structure
  • True-to-size fit
  • Upper offers next-to-skin comfort
  • Good for outdoor use
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Not enough impact protection
  • Dust-prone outsole
  • A bit unstable
Full review of Nike Giannis Immortality 2

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Men
Women
Any color
003 cobblestone/ironstone/magic ember/black (DM0825003)
White/Green (DM0825300)
White/Metallic Silver (DM0825102)
Black/Wolf Grey/White/Black (DM0825002)
Hot Punch/Laser Orange-Oxygen Purple-Pink Foam (DM0825600)
Cool Grey/Glacier Blue (DM0825004)
Black/white-university blue (DM0825001)
White (DM0825101)
More colors

Best low top lace-up basketball shoes

Nike KD 15
94
Superb!

What makes it the best?

The releases from the KD line are hits, and the Nike KD 15 is not an exemption. This basketball shoe energizes every step without forgetting to protect the feet from impact upon aggressive strikes and hard landings. Dust is also not going to be a problem, and the grip is indeed consistent even on unkempt floors. Its collar is not as high, but the curved structure of the heel locks in the foot extra securely. It's apparent that a lot of careful thought was poured into the design process of this Nike offer.

Pros

  • Consistent grip on different surfaces
  • Dust-resistant outsole
  • Plush and protective foam
  • Bouncy midsole
  • Secure heel counter
  • Well-ventilated upper
  • Feels light
  • OK for outdoors

Cons

  • Not for wide-footers
  • Lacks flexiblity
Full review of Nike KD 15

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Men
Women
Any color
White/White-black-royal Tint (DC1975101)
Wolf Grey/Wolf Grey/White (DO9826001)
Multicolor/multicolor (DO9825902)
White/white/black (DO9826002)
Action Grape/White/Black/Pink Foam (FN8010500)
Light orewood brown/metallic g (DV1199100)
Game Royal/Game Royal/White (DO9826401)
900 multi-colour/multi-colour (DO9825900)
More colors

Best Nike low top basketball shoes

Nike Zoom Freak 4
91
Superb!

What makes it the best?

The Nike Zoom Freak 4 is a worthy follow-up to the Freak 3s because of the noticeable improvement that it brings. It brings out the best in players who do a lot of rebounds and fast runs to the basket because of the high levels of energy that it returns with every step. It's pretty safe to say that this basketball shoe from Nike is worth every penny spent on it.

Pros

  • Noticeable upgrades
  • Amazing grip on indoor courts
  • Dust-resistant outsole
  • Smooth steps
  • Pretty good court feel
  • Dependable impact protection
  • Jump-improving bounce
  • Reliably supportive structure
  • True-to-size fit

Cons

  • Not ideal for outdoors (but OK)
  • Not for bigger players and wide footers
  • Cheap-feeling materials
Full review of Nike Zoom Freak 4

Today's best price

Unisex
Any color
600 university red/white (DO9679600)
Grey (DO9679001)
White (DO9679100)
Black/Black/White (DO9679002)
Game Royal/White-game Royal (DO9679401)
Midnite Navy/White (DO9679400)
Ironstone/Cobblestone/Sail/Orange Trance (DJ6149003)
White (DJ6149100)
More colors

Best Jordan low top basketball shoes

Jordan Luka 1
91
Superb!

What makes it the best?

Luka Doncic's signature line with Jordan is off to a good start with the Luka 1. Fairly anticipated by fans, this Jordan basketball shoe does not disappoint when it comes to making its wearer more nimble and agile on the court. The shoe is really in the business of fueling every step and catapulting every jump. Guards like Luka himself are having their heyday with this!

Pros

  • Impressive grip
  • Nice impact protection
  • Amazing energy return
  • Comfortable upper materials
  • Breathable
  • No-frills foot lockdown
  • Stable steps
  • No need for break-in

Cons

  • Cheap-feeling materials
  • Not for outdoors
Full review of Jordan Luka 1

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Unisex
Any color
Blue (DN1772436)
White (DN1772108)
White (DN1772106)
Mint Foam/Court Purple/Dark Concord/Racer Pink (DN1772305)
Black/Black/White (DQ7689001)
White (DN1772107)
Black (DN1772060)
WHITE/FIRE PINK/DYNAMIC TURQUOISE (DN1772164)
More colors

Comparison of the 5 best low top basketball shoes

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

Stability features for (low-top) basketball shoes

As said, collar height does not do much in terms of providing support and ensuring stability. What features, then, better ensure support and stability?

Lace.png

Closure System. Basically, a closure system is the main mechanism that keeps the shoe on your foot. In basketball, a lace-up closure is the most common. You can maximize the benefits of this by knowing how to tie your laces. Learn more about different lacing techniques in this guide.

heel counter.png

Heel Counter. For most low-top basketball shoes, or basketball shoes in general, the rear part of the shoe is made of sturdier material to form the heel counter. This feature helps keep the foot in place especially during aggressive movements.

Midfoot Shank. When movements become more aggressive, you risk twisting your foot. A midsole with a shank embedded in the middle of it helps prevent this from happening.

Inner Sleeve. The insides of a shoe are often lined with a form-fitting and comfortable material to enhance its fit. Neoprene and some soft fabric or rubber are the most commonly used material for this.

side clip.png

Side clips. Usually found on the lateral side, clips that are made of sturdy plastic are often laid to serve as additional support features especially if the upper material is made of stretchy materials.

Low-top basketball shoes: A Kobe Bryant effect

It was in 2008 when Kobe Bryant’s first low-top basketball shoe– the Kobe IV– was released; and he rarely wore high-tops in his games since then. This release is widely regarded as the start of the popularity of low-tops in the NBA.

kobe 4 protro.png

The Kobe 4 Protro

The fourth Kobe is so iconic that Nike and Kobe Bryant released a protro version of it in 2019. A protro is practically a retro with modern technological updates to ensure its court worthiness.

What prompted Kobe to go low? 

Having spent a good part of his childhood in Italy, he was exposed quite extensively to football (known as soccer in the US). The shoes worn by football players are often low-top. He thought that if football players can make it with low-tops, there’s no reason that basketball players can’t!

Which NBA stars followed suit? 

The use of low-top basketball shoes has become so popular in the NBA. Many of the NBA guys that are sponsored by Nike are seen wearing low-top Kobes on the court. 

New NBA stars such as Paul George, James Harden, and just very recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo (with the release of his first shoe the Nike Freak 1) are huge Kobe fans. Their signature shoes sport low collars in keeping with their idol’s game-changing initiative.Though he usually wears high-tops on court, LeBron James and Nike also produce low-top versions of his highly celebrated signature basketball shoes. Stephen Curry does the same, though his fifth and sixth Curry shoe debuted as low-tops.

To know how to get the right low-top basketball shoes for you, access our detailed guide for the best basketball shoes.

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.