7 Best New Basketball Shoes in 2023

If you want the latest releases of Nike, Converse, Adidas, or Under Armour, you come to the right place. In this special collection, we’ve rounded up and tested the best new basketball shoes out there. Check these parts of the web from time to time as we constantly update this section for new offerings.
Every year, new signature shoes of NBA Superstars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and James Harden, to name a few, are released by major brands. Hoops fans await their arrival and even make their pre-orders months before their actual release date.
To help you decide which new basketball shoes are perfectly suited to your needs, we’ve reviewed several models and highlighted our top picks for your quick reference.
Best new basketball shoes overall





































What makes it the best?
Newly released basketball shoes are all great, but the Nike LeBron NXXT GEN still managed to rise above them all because of its speed-oriented design that highlighted an effectively reduced weight and surprisingly firm midsole. We were also extra thankful for this shoe’s torsional rigidity that kept us safe from painful twists and instability.
Being a LeBron, we expected the NXXT GEN to be quite heavy. Our jaws dropped when the weighing scale reported its weight to be only 13.12 ounces or 372 grams, making it even lighter than the 13.65 ounces or 387 grams average. The reduced weight allowed us to speed up our runs.
We believed that LeBron shoes are always cushiony. But this belief changed when we played in the LeBron NXXT GEN. Its tooling actually felt firm and reactive! Our HA durometer in the lab pegged its softness to be 30.6, which is higher (hence firmer) than the 27.9 average.
We felt so protected from twists because the shoe’s base truly felt firm and stable. We manually assessed it in the lab, and it indeed showed quite a resistance. It earned a 4 out of 5 from us for torsional rigidity.
The shoe’s ventilation, though, was quite a bummer. Our smoke test showed that the upper material couldn’t let the smoke nor air pass through, and it earned only a 2 out of 5.
Pros
- Top-notch traction
- Lightest LeBron shoe (as of 2023)
- Nice bounce in the forefoot
- A fine balance of court feel and impact protection
- Effective foot containment
- Very comfortable wraparound feel
- Quality materials
- Standout design and colors
Cons
- Surprisingly not for wide feet
- Still kinda expensive
Today's best price






New basketball shoes with the best traction

What makes it the best?
Pros
- Super amazing traction on dustless courts
- Heel-to-toe transition is smooth
- Well-pronounced court feel
- Fairly dependable impact protection
- Comfortable and supportive heel area
- Very good overall containment
- Laces offers exceptional lockdown
- True-to-size fit
- Easy to put on and take off
Cons
- Ventilation has to be improved
- Not the best for outdoor use
- Shoe is on the heavier side
Today's best price

New basketball shoes with the best cushioning

What makes it the best?
Pros
- Powerful energy returns
- Excellent impact protection
- Dependable grip on court surfaces
- Amazing all-around comfort
- Fairly breathable upper
- Lots of support and stability
- Fits to a T
- Light for its structure
- Aesthetically pleasing
Cons
- Almost zero court feel
- Needs to be properly broken in
Today's best price
New basketball shoes with the best support

What makes it the best?
Pros
- Amazing traction, especially on clean courts
- Impressive forefoot bounce
- Pretty nice backside support
- Efficient and effective lacing
- Comfortably supportive tongue
- True-to-size fit
- Exceptional wraparound comfort
- Noteworthy looks
Cons
- Definitely not for outdoors
- Has to be broken in
Today's best price



Best new basketball shoes for outdoor courts










































What makes it the best?
Pros
- Perfect for outdoor courts
- Outstandingly durable
- One of the most stable shoes
- Wide platform
- Very secure lockdown
- Reliable traction on all courts
- Breathable enough
- Sustainable materials
Cons
- Firm sole with poor impact protection
- Heavier than average
- Break-in needed
Today's best price





New basketball shoes with the best value

What makes it the best?
Pros
- A true bang for the buck
- Amazing grip on the court
- Quite a supportive ride
- Pretty comfortable wraparound
- Great plushness around the heel
- Good forefoot bounce
- Durable structure
- True-to-size fit
- Stylish look
Cons
- Cheap-feeling materials
- Still has to be broken in
Today's best price




Best new budget basketball shoes

What makes it the best?
Pros
- Noteworthy support and lockdown
- Very comfortable feel
- Pretty lightweight structure
- True-to-size fit
- No-frills grip on the court
- Appealing streamlined look
- OK purposes other than basketball
- A true bang for the buck
Cons
- Issues with durability
- Not for outdoor use
Today's best price




Comparison of the 7 best new basketball shoes
+ + Add a product | + + Add a product | + + Add a product | + + Add a product | + + Add a product | + + Add a product | + + Add a product | + + Add a product | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Best | ||||||||
CoreScore | ||||||||
Users rating | ||||||||
Experts | ||||||||
Best price | ||||||||
Ranking | ||||||||
Popularity | ||||||||
# of colorways |
How we test basketball shoes
To identify the best model for a specific category, we put each model to an array of mechanical tests in the RunRepeat lab. As a team of wear-testers, we also go to work by determining the shoes’ on-court performance, fit, ankle support, and comfort by playing several games of basketball, both indoor and outdoor.
Our methodology specifically includes:
- Buying the new basketball shoes for testing using our own money. This keeps our reviews 100% objective and free from bias.
- Wear testing each pair playing actual games of hoops. After that, we record our first-hand experience.
- Cutting the models open in our lab. We carefully examine their essential parts such as the midsole construction, energy return, upper durability, support, and traction, among others.