5 Best New Balance Basketball Shoes in 2025

Choosing the best pair of shoes overall is not an easy task, but the fact that the TWO WXY V5 is one of the safest bets we’ve seen made it easy. Its wonderful versatility, adaptability, and performance work hand in hand to make it a fantastic all-rounder.

No matter how quick or aggressive our playstyle was, we felt supported at all times. The lateral stability was superb thanks to this shoe’s massive lateral walls. But that’s not all, as its structure also got the highest scores (5/5) on both our torsional rigidity and heel counter stiffness tests, so our feet didn’t move an inch! The cherry on top of this fantastic containment is the extra thick tongue, which comes at 12.5 mm.

But we didn’t just feel this support from the upper. Underfoot, we enjoyed a higher-than-average stack. At 32.4 mm, this shoe’s heel features Fresh Foam X, which focuses on impact protection. Then, at 23.0 mm, we found this NB pair has the responsive and bouncy Fuel Cell on the forefoot, which felt pretty explosive on our layups.

This wonderful mix of support and energy underfoot has a main drawback: it doesn't offer any court feel at all!

The cloud-like midsole of the Fresh Foam BB v3 not only feels good, but it also provides fantastic impact protection, making it a New Balance basketball shoe with the best shock absorption!

Our lab tests recorded exceptionally high readings of 127 SA in the shoe’s heel and 101 SA in its forefoot, going well above the category average! What’s more, the Fresh Foam itself turned out to be ultra-plush, with its primary foam layer showing some of the lowest durometer readings at 25.6 AC (40% softer than average!).

Of course, all this comfort and protection wouldn’t be possible without the BB v3’s towering stack height of 34.4 mm in the heel and 25.8 mm in the forefoot.

Despite the midsole thickness, we were pleased to find that this NB shoe didn’t sacrifice forefoot flexibility and didn’t even add much bulk, weighing a moderate 14.0 oz (397g).

It should be mentioned, however, that the BB v3 offers more of a cushy, sink-in feel than a bouncy, dynamic ride, as its energy return proved to be below average.

There is no way you can pull off a hesi move without a strong outsole grip. And that’s exactly what the Hesi Low v2 was made for, as a New Balance basketball shoe with the best traction!

With a high friction coefficient of 0.84, we are amazed at the confidence it provides during abrupt stops, quick cuts, and all kinds of offensive moves (hesitation and otherwise).

Our surefootedness is further enhanced by the NB Hesi Low v2’s highly supportive construction, which helps it move as one with the foot without slips or wobbles. Its sturdy shank and heel clip put the shoe’s torsional rigidity to the max (5 out of 5), delivering a secure, stable experience.

And if you limit the use of this New Balance shoe to indoor hardwood only, you will be pleasantly surprised by how much life its outsole has to offer. By the end of our Dremel test, the dent in its rubber was shallower than average at 0.7 mm.

Our feet loved every hour, minute, and second of our wear tests with the Kawhi IV. So we believe it absolutely deserves the crown as the New Balance hooper with the best comfort.

When we took it to our lab, we discovered its incredibly padded interiors. This made the shoe more comfortable and improved its overall lockdown feel. Now that we had it cut in half, we had free access to its dual-coloured midsole. Scoring 15.0 and 17.0 HA on our durometer, both parts of the foam felt incredibly plush and comfortable underfoot, with the latter adding some extra stability.

Running up and down the court was also pretty easy. Our stiffness tester marked 17.4N when we measured this NB's flexibility. This means we needed a whole 14.7% less force to bend it up to 30 degrees. On the court, such score translated into smooth transitions and easy fakes of any kind.

The problem with having all this padding and foam is that the shoe doesn’t feel like a feather. At 14.4 oz/407g, it’s heavier than other hoopers, which might be a dealbreaker for some.

When we consider a shoe as the best sneaker, we do not look only at its looks. We also pay attention to the comfort that it delivers, its durability, and how securely it grasps the foot. The New Balance 550 passed with flying colours in all aspects, so we consider it deserves to be hailed as the best basketball-inspired sneaker from NB.

Nothing really beats leather when it comes to providing softness and a unique next-to-the-skin feel. The NB 550 is made of real leather, and we thoroughly enjoyed all the benefits that come with it. 

Lasting long even with frequent use would not be a problem with the New Balance 550. We subjected it to Dremel tests, and we learned that the leather upper and the heel padding were dependably durable. Both got a 4 out of 5 for durability during the tests.

When it comes to locking the foot down, the NB 550 is not to be discounted, either. It got a 4 out of 5 for both torsional rigidity and heel counter stiffness. This means that upon wearing this shoe, we did not have to worry anymore about foot twists and heel slips.

We were just not fond of the heaviness of the shoe. Our scale pegged it at 15.94 ounces or 452 grammes. The average is only 14.00 ounces or 397 grammes.