4 Best Nike Basketball Shoes in 2023
When it comes to sports footwear, Nike leads. This holds true even in performance basketball where the brand and its subsidiary Jordan hold more than 80% of the market. This makes quite an extensive range to choose from.
Some models come with extra cushioning, some have outstanding grip, and some provide the most secure lockdown around your ankle. On top of that, you can also find those all-around performers that successfully blend all of the above.
To help you find the right option, we have reviewed over 100 basketball shoes and selected the cream of the crop.
How we test basketball shoes
The best Nike basketball shoes are determined by ranking them according to their Corescore. A corescore is an aggregate numerical assessment that is based on reviews by players, expert reviewers, and even ordinary users.
For the list below, we were able to survey more than 930 experts and more than 64,000 users.
Best Nike basketball shoes overall
What makes it the best?
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
Best Nike basketball shoes for outdoor court
What makes it the best?
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
Best low top Nike basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
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
Best value Nike basketball shoes
What makes it the best?
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
Comparison of the 4 best Nike basketball shoes
+ + 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 |
What sets the best Nike basketball shoes apart
Nike dominates the basketball market definitely not by chance. It offers a good deal of innovations that help with performance on the hard court.
Many of the proprietary technologies featured in Nike basketball shoes debuted in running shoes.
|
Technology |
Description |
|
|
Cushion |
Air |
Polyurethane pouch filled with dense gases, achieves that feeling of comfortably ‘walking on air’ |
|
Zoom Air |
Air unit with tightly stretched tensile fibers knit inside it for a more perfect balance of responsiveness and impact protection |
|
|
Lunarlon |
Special foam, bouncier and 30% lighter than phylon |
|
|
Vapormax |
Air packets that are put directly beneath known pressure points for a more targeted and efficient cushioning |
|
|
React |
Special lab-produced foam that is both soft and responsive |
|
|
Upper |
Flywire |
Suspension-cables-like wires on both sides, cradling the foot and holding it securely in place especially during motion |
|
Flyknit |
Digitally engineered knit that is light, form-fitting, and seamless |
|
|
Battleknit |
Flyknit innovation for LeBron James that becomes increasingly stiff at the midfoot where stability is most needed |
|
|
Knitposite |
First used on LeBrons shoes, this is basically Flyknit infused with heat-molded yarn that makes it more durable and supportive |
Beyond technologies: Other factors to consider
Apart from technologies, other factors play important roles in ensuring your enjoyment of Nike basketball shoes
Playing style
Expectedly, many of the top Nike basketball shoes are from signature lines dedicated to some of NBA’s most prolific players like guard Paul George and power forward Kevin Durant. This should make choosing the right shoe easier. Shoes from signature lines are sensitive not only to the star player’s personal preferences but also their playing positions.
According to Basketball Reference, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James are versatile players who can handle almost all playing positions. We can expect their shoes to be as flexible as they are.
Style and aesthetics
Nike basketball shoes are as pretty as they are high-performing. They will be of use even when you are off the court.
Low or high, know what you want. High-top basketball sneakers are espoused by players like LeBron James. Low-top basketball shoes are worn by many of Nike’s NBA stars, the most prominent of which being Kobe Bryant. Wanting one collar length over the other is just a matter of preference.
Know your color. Nike basketball shoes are available in thousands of colorways. Many of them commemorate important events or holidays such as Black History, Christmas, Easter, and the NBA Championships. There are also colorways that reference the lives and careers of their signature athletes.
To know more about the general steps to consider when buying basketball shoes, read our detailed buying guide.
Indoor or outdoor? The sturdiness test
The basketball shoe industry in general is largely driven by the NBA. With this, Nike releases basketball shoes that are deliberately for indoor hooping on a well-kept hard court.
You need to know how to assess a shoe’s outdoor playability before you use it on asphalt or any other type of outdoor court. Here’s how you can assess the shoe:
Get the best Nike basketball shoes for less
The top Nike basketball shoes are going to be even greater if they are NOT expensive.
Non-signature models are not expensive simply because no big names are attached to them.
The price of older models are deliberately brought down in clearance sales. Remember, the presence of a newer option does not automatically make older models less effective. They still have the technologies that make them desirable.
Even within signature lines, Nike develops takedown models to appeal to a wider audience. These basketball shoes are cheaper because they use non-premium materials. LeBron’s Witness line and Kyrie Irving’s Flytrap series are examples of takedown signature releases from Nike.
