3 Best Nike Air Max Basketball Shoes in 2022
Making big waves in the NBA in the 90s and onwards, the Nike Air Max basketball shoes are a big man’s dream shoe. These iconic models flaunt a visible Air Max cushioning, lockdown fit, and the Air Max bubble technology for maximum impact protection.
Hardcore fans of Air Max and regular buyers usually get a pair of these retros to add to their collections or simply to rock on the streets. Some use it on the court for a big man’s game. Most of the owners, if not all, are often ecstatic with the Air Max’s neat quality, unique design, great fit, and comfort.
Whether you’re looking to buy the latest model or a first-time buyer, we can help you pick the most suitable pair of Air Maxes for both men and women. From the OG Air Max Penny 1 to the haute-couture collabs, you can check out our excellent selections below.
How we test basketball shoes
We make our top recommendations based on categories that we think are helpful to you. Our selection process involves meticulous testing of each model in the database. That means thorough examinations inside the RunRepeat shoe testing lab, and on-court wear tests. Here’s our approach:
- We purchase all the Nike Air Max basketball shoes from our own pocket. This safeguards the 100% objectivity of all our reviews.
- We cut the shoes into their essential parts for in-depth analysis. We closely check and measure the Air Max technology, traction, overall comfort, ankle support, and many more.
- We test the shoes on the court while playing actual basketball games.
- We enrich our own findings by taking into consideration what the other professional testers are saying about the latest Air Maxes.
To get the verdict, we calculate all data above utilizing our CoreScore system. An overall score from 0 to 100 is then given on all Nike Air Max shoes on this list depending on their performance during the tests. We highlight the top-rated shoes on this page.
Best Nike Air Max basketball shoes overall
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all basketball shoes.
This shoe has a 8% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn more- Top 23% in Nike Air basketball shoes
Pros
- Comfortable fit
- Ankle support and stability
- Lightweight
- Sufficient cushioning
- Looks nice
Cons
- Tight toe box
- Some don't like the style
- Creases easily
- Slappy feel
- Little hot inside
Verdict
Best value Nike Air Max basketball shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all basketball shoes.
This shoe has a 8% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn morePros
- Highly recommend
- Traction works great indoors
- Stylish
- Impact absorbent
- Highly rated
Cons
- Not made for the blacktop
- Mesh part quickly ripped
Verdict
Most popular Nike Air Max basketball shoes
CoreScore
The Corescore is a score from 0-100 that summarizes opinions from users and experts. Below shows the distribution of scores for all basketball shoes.
This shoe has a 8% penalty on its expert reviews because it has fewer than 5 reviews. This is to avoid that shoes with few reviews unjustly receives high scores.
Learn morePros
- Excellent traction
- Good foot containment
- Basic and simple design
- Pleasing gum outsole
- Attractive colorways
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Comfortable construction
- Fits true-to-size
- Great for outdoor play
- Durable outsole
- Breathable
Cons
- Runs narrow and long
- Upper is not stretchable
- Takes time to break in
- Foot slippage during gameplay
