7 Best Basketball Shoes For Men in 2023
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Why trust us
Given the popularity of the NBA and its roster of star athletes, basketball is a sport more readily associated with men than women. Hence, it comes as no surprise that shoes and other apparel created for this sport have the male anatomy in mind.
In this article, we take a look at the most suitable shoes for men. They are the ones that truly made a mark after testing more than 400 shoes from big sports brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour.
Of course, this does not mean that there are no women’s basketball shoes. Female fans are as real as their male counterparts, and their needs deserve unique attention. We have a separate page for the best basketball shoes for women.
How we test basketball shoes
It is important to keep our reviews as free from bias as possible. Here’s what we do to stay objective:
- We buy the shoes using our own money. No sponsorships. No X-deals. We are as much consumers of these shoes as you are.
- We test the shoes in actual games; not just mere footwork tests/training.
- We are a group of testers here, so our experiences are diverse. You’d know who reviewed that because we keep our author bios open.
- We do our research. In addition to our own reviews, we also get the inputs of users and experts from all over the net in order to come up with a numeric CoreScore for your easy reference.
Best 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
Today's best price
Unisex
Any color
More colors
Nike
$155
Finish Line
Free shipping & returns
$160
Amazon
Free shipping
$200
Champs Sports
Free shipping & returns
$200
Basketball shoes for men with best support
Jordan Zion 2
91
Superb!
What makes it the best?
Zion Williamson is a really big and powerful player, and his second signature shoe is built for players like him. Its design and overall structure contain so much force and high levels of aggression on the court. It's all about powerful cuts, forceful offenses, and determined sprints to the basket. It's as if the Jordan Zion 2 is saying: "give it your all or not play at all!"
Pros
- Strong side-to-side grip
- Tremendous support
- Very pronounced court feel
- Reliable energy return
- True-to-size fit
- Breathable
- Good for bigger men
- OK for outdoors
- Casual style
Cons
- Dust-prone outsole
- Lacks impact protection
- Seriously needs breaking in
Today's best price
Men
Women
Any color
Nike
$85
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$99
Zappos
Running Warehouse
Basketball shoes for men with best cushioning
Nike KD 15
93
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
Today's best price
Men
Women
Any color
More colors
Amazon
Free shipping
$130
Nike
$137
Finish Line
Free shipping & returns
$150
Champs Sports
Free shipping & returns
$150
Best men's basketball shoes for wide feet
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
Today's best price
Unisex
Any color
More colors
Amazon
Free shipping
$66
Adidas
Free shipping and returns
$70
Zappos
Free shipping & returns
$91
Champs Sports
Free shipping & returns
$100
Finish Line
Free shipping & returns
$130
Best low top basketball shoes for men
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
Today's best price
Unisex
Any color
More colors
Nike
$66
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$70
Champs Sports
$70
Stadium Goods
$85
Best value Nike basketball shoes for men
Nike Giannis Immortality 2
85
Good!
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
Today's best price
Men
Women
Any color
More colors
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$72
Nike
$73
Zappos
Running Warehouse
Most popular basketball shoes for men
Jordan Luka 1
90
Superb!
What makes it the most popular?
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
Today's best price
Unisex
Any color
More colors
Nike
$94
Amazon
Prime & free shipping
$107
Stadium Goods
$145
Zappos
Comparison of the 7 best basketball shoes for men
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