7 Best New Basketball Shoes in 2023

Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic on
7 Best New Basketball Shoes in 2023
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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
Full review of Nike Lebron NXXT GEN

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Unisex
Any color
Black (DR8784001)
101white/metallic silver-black (DR8784101)
Light Orewood Brown/Coral Chalk/Sesame (DR8784100)
Black/Medium Soft Pink/White (DR8784003)
Blue (DR8784400)
Grå (DR8784004)

New basketball shoes with the best traction

What makes it the best?

Nimble guards and big players are going to have lots of fun playing in Adidas Harden Vol. 7 shoes. This basketball shoe's design effectively ensures control, energy return, and confidence. Hence, it does not come as a surprise that many players consider this one of the best shoes from Adidas in recent months.

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
Full review of Adidas Harden Vol. 7

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Men
Women
Any color
Better Scarlet/Core Black/Better Scarlet (GW4464)

New basketball shoes with the best cushioning

Nike G.T. Jump 2
90
Superb!

What makes it the best?

True to its name, the Nike G.T. Jump 2 is indeed a shoe that understands the demands of each jump. Its midsole gives back the power that fuels takeoffs and absorbs impact upon landing. For players whose style involves jumping blocks, dunks, and jump shots, this shoe is going to be such a treat.

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
Full review of Nike G.T. Jump 2

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Men
Women

New basketball shoes with the best support

Jordan Luka 2
86
Great!

What makes it the best?

All things considered, the Jordan Luka 2 is indeed a worthy upgrade from the Luka 1. Swifter guards are going to have the games of their lives in this shoe because of the energy return and comfort that it provides. It's a very welcome bonus that this shoe is comfortable and pleasing enough to be worn in non-game contexts.

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
Full review of Jordan Luka 2

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Men
Women
Any color
Black (DX8733001)
Tropical Twist/Metallic Gold/Washed Teal (DX8733300)
Grey (DX8733005)

Best new basketball shoes for outdoor courts

What makes it the best?

The Nike Cosmic Unity 3 is an investment that will give a lot of returns. We believe that this is the case where a high price tag is absolutely justified. For us, this shoe is an instant top pick in the durability and stability departments. And for sure, it is among the best options for outdoor use that we've seen in a while. If Nike fixes its firm midsole and trims down the weight for the next iteration, we are ready to claim it as THAT SHOE.

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
Full review of Nike Cosmic Unity 3

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Unisex
Any color
Brown (DV2757200)
Purple (DV2757500)
Jade Ice/Emerald Rise/Clear Jade/White (DV2757300)
Summit White/Pure Platinum/White/Black (DV2757100)
Wolf Grey/White/White (DZ2906001)

New basketball shoes with the best value

Nike Ja 1
87
Great!

What makes it the best?

The anticipation for Ja Morant's first signature shoe with Nike is pretty much justified. The Nike Ja 1 is a total performer that suits different kinds of players: from guards who appreciate a lot of energy return to heel strikers and bigger men who need good impact protection. It's also comfortable enough to be worn off the court. You can really maximize the money spent on this hoop shoe.

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
Full review of Nike Ja 1

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Men
Women
Any color
Ember Glow/Blue Lightning/Light Silver (DR8785800)
White (DR8785100)
Phantom/Action Green/Action Grape (DR8785001)
400 cobalt bliss/citron tint/hot p (DR8785400)

Best new budget basketball shoes

What makes it the best?

The Adidas Ownthegame basketball shoes get the job done, there should be no question about this by now. This pair of kicks just deliver on generally important aspects that wearers start using their Ownthegame shoes for other activities such as tennis, dancing, and even working out in the gym. This shoe surely gives anyone a lot of opportunities to make the most out of it.

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
Full review of Adidas Ownthegame

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Men
Women
Any color
Grey Five Matte Gold Core Black (GW5487)
Grey Five Matte Gold Core Black (GW5483)
Core Black Ftwr White Carbon (H00471)
Scarlet/Core Black/Grey Six (H00466)

Comparison of the 7 best new basketball shoes

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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.
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.