7 Best Basketball Shoes in 2024

Dimitrije Curcic
Dimitrije Curcic on
7 Best Basketball Shoes in 2024
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Basketball is a combination of running, jumping, quick stops, and abrupt direction changes. Regular trainers can support some of these movements, but only the right basketball shoes support them all.

Some shoes make for perfect all-rounders while others excel in a specific characteristic like grip or cushioning. Don't be overwhelmed, though, as we are here to guide you through your choice.

We have reviewed over 100 basketball shoes from 10+ different brands to single out the best options to date.

How we test basketball shoes

To come up with our list of the best basketball shoes:

  • We purchase the shoes with our own funds so that we can proceed to review the shoes with total fairness.
  • We play and hoop in these shoes on both indoor and outdoor courts, so we will have a diversified feel of them.
  • Last but not least, we put these pairs through over 30 tests and measurements in the lab, where we dissect and scrutinise them more profoundly. 

To elaborate more on the tests we perform in the lab, we judge what factors affect the shoe's performance during our play and wear tests.

Best basketball shoes overall

What makes it the best?

We totally enjoyed wearing the LeBron NXXT GEN in our games because it was surprisingly light for a LeBron shoe. It also delivered a good amount of bounce and was quite flexible. All these benefits convinced us that this is indeed the best pick of its time.

At only 13.12 ounces or 372 grams, this LeBron shoe is even lighter than the average hoop shoe, which weighs 14.22 ounces or 403 grams. The reduced weight allowed us to run faster and jump higher as we battled for points on the court.

The Zoom Air unit in the forefoot did what it was supposed to do. Each step felt 100% fueled as we ran past opponents and attempted to score. We have to say, the Nike LeBron NXXT GEN gave us some of the most efficient runs ever.

The flexibility of this Nike shoe was also on point. It was able to follow our movements, even the most peculiarly angled ones. In the lab, we saw why this was so. This shoe only needed 32.4N of force to bend at 90 degrees. This figure is much lower than the 40.9N that a typical shoe would need.

It’s just too bad that the NXXT GEN  is not really for players with wide feet. The toebox at the big toe is particularly cinched, measuring only 74.9 mm when the average is 76.8 mm.

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 colours

Cons

  • Surprisingly not for wide feet
  • Still kinda expensive
Full review of Nike Lebron NXXT GEN

Basketball shoes with the best traction

What makes it the best?

When it comes to having an amazing bite on the court, nothing comes close to the Under Armour Curry 10. Aside from great traction, we also appreciated this shoe for its outstanding breathability and lightweight structure.

During our playtests, stopping on a dime was never a problem. Even if this shoe doesn’t really have a real outsole, it is still able to provide multidirectional coverage, and boy was the bite strong and dependable!

Comfort was not put at the backseat, either, because this shoe just had the perfect breathability. We did our usual breathability tests in the lab, and we’ve seen that both smoke and light didn’t have issues going through the upper material. Getting a perfect 5 from us has never been that easy.

Compared to the 14.22 oz or 403g average, this shoe comes in really light at 12.63 oz or 538g. We were able to run faster and jump higher because of this lightness.

It’s just too regretful that this shoe isn’t really for those with wide feet. At its widest, the our caliper showed that the toebox is only 97.5 mm wide. The average goes as high as 101.0 mm.

Pros

  • Fantastic traction on indoor courts
  • Pronounced court feel
  • A lot of spring back
  • Flawless heel-to-toe transition
  • Highly breathable upper
  • Very supportive and stable
  • Pretty lightweight
  • Stylish design

Cons

  • Not suitable for outdoor use
  • So-so impact protection
Full review of Under Armour Curry Flow 10

Basketball shoes with the best cushioning

Nike Lebron 20
94
Superb!

What makes it the best?

When it comes to cushioning, the LeBron 20 stands out because it offered an effective blend of impact protection and ground feel, which is further enhanced by its 4.4 mm drop.  In addition, this shoe also delivered protection from twists through its pretty firm and stable base. 

Using a caliper, we learned that the midsole is slightly thinner than average, especially around the heel. The heel stack is only 27.0 mm high when the average could go as high as 30.0. This setup brought our feet closer to the ground, effectively enhancing court feel.

Despite being thinner, the midsole still proved to be slightly softer. Our HA durometer in the lab gave it a rating of 25.5 when the average is 26.6. On the court, this much softness gave us just the right amount of impact protection.

Another benefit that’s worth mentioning is the LeBron 20’s torsional rigidity. Not once did we have to worry about painful twists because of how firm the base felt. We did manual twists on the shoe back in the lab, and hands down, it’s a perfect 5 when it comes to torsional resistance.

It’s just a bummer that there was not much breathability. This shoe only got a 2 out of 5 in our smoke test since the upper was seen to be relatively impermeable.

Full review of Nike Lebron 20

Basketball shoes with the best support

Jordan Zion 2
90
Superb!

What makes it the best?

We declare the Jordan Zion 2 as the best shoe for foot containment because it has a perfectly effective heel counter, an amazingly secure structure, and a twist-resistant base. All these features work together to hold the foot securely in place. Not once did we feel unstable or wobbly even as we moved quite aggressively during the most intense parts of our games.

Lab results showed us that the heel counter is flawlessly able to hold its own in the face of pressure. No amount of manual squeezing could make it give up its shape and secure clasp on the rearfoot. It very well deserves the 5 out of 5 for stiffness that it got from us.

Our jaws dropped when we saw that this shoe needed 67.2N of force to be bent at 90 degrees. A typical basketball shoe would only require 40.9N to bend at the same angle. The rigidity of its overall makeup reduced the chance of slipping to zero.

We also manually twisted the Jordan Zion 2 as part of our lab assessments. Because of the shoe's resistance when we did torsional twists, we gave it a 5 out of 5 for torsional rigidity. Given this much stiffness, worrying about ankle rolls quickly became a thing of the past.

Unfortunately, those players who want something light won’t be happy with the Zion 2. At 15.2 ounces or 431 grams, this shoe is indeed heavier than the 14.22 ounces or 403 grams average.

Pros

  • Strong side-to-side grip
  • Tremendous support
  • Very pronounced court feel
  • Reliable energy return
  • True-to-size fit
  • Breathable
  • Good for bigger men
  • OK for outdoors
  • Casual style

Cons

  • Dust-prone outsole
  • Lacks impact protection
  • Seriously needs breaking in
Full review of Jordan Zion 2

Best lightweight basketball shoes

What makes it the best?

The Nike Zoom Freak 4’s weight (12.3 oz or 348g) is below the average (13.7 oz or 387g), so it helped us be more agile and to persist longer during our games. Its outsole is actually harder than average, making it more resistant to abrasion. The above-average hardness even makes it a worthy outdoor shoe. This shoe is also a beast when it comes to heel support because of its stiff counter. Given all these benefits, we hail the Zoom Freak 4 as the best lightweight shoe in our inventory.

We learned in the lab that while the outsole is not any thicker than average (4.0 mm vs 3.9 mm average), the rubber compound is actually harder. Our HC durometer pegged the Freak 4’s sole hardness at 84.5 when the average is 80.3.

The heel counter got a score of 4 out of 5 for firmness. We gave this rating after it showed considerable resistance when we squeezed and twisted it manually in the lab. Our feet loved this heel support!

Our digital force gauge showed that the Zoom Freak 4 needed 54.0N to bend at 90 degrees, this makes it more resistant than the typical shoe which would need only 41.9N. Players who need shoes that do so well with natural foot flexions might not be too happy with this pick.

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
Full review of Nike Zoom Freak 4

Best basetball shoes for outdoor courts

What makes it the best?

Our experience and lab assessments tell us that the Cosmic Unity 3 from Nike is above all other basketball shoes in outdoor playability. We found that this shoe is above average when it comes to its outsole hardness, making it perfectly suitable for outdoor usage. Besides outdoor-worthiness, this Nike shoe was also a bomb because of its amazingly consistent bite and impressively durable upper.

We confidently used this shoe outdoors because we felt the unrelenting firmness of its rubber sole. Our findings on the HC durometer showed that the rubber material possessed a higher level of hardness (86.5) in contrast to the typical number (81.5). The harder the rubber, the longer it lasts in our experience.

When it comes to traction, the Nike Cosmic Unity 3 is an awe-inspiring beast. Aside from being consistent on both indoor and outdoor courts, we were amazed by how resistant it was to dust. The sole gripped the floors so well, even if we did not wipe it much.

The third thing that gives the Cosmic Unity 3 the edge over other shoes was the amazing durability of its toebox. In the lab, we performed the standard Dremel test. We saw that 12 seconds of high-pressure drilling barely left a mark on the material, pushing us to give it a perfect 5 for durability.

One thing that made us a bit concerned was its weight. It is indeed heavier than average (14.22 oz or 403g) at 15.66 oz or 444g.

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

Best budget basketball shoes

What makes it the best?

We got the Air Max Impact 4 for £100 (the average price for Nike shoes is £140), and it surely delivered a lot more than we paid for and offered the best value for money among all basketball shoes. The most notable for us was the durability of its outsole, which made this shoe very effective for outdoor use. We also appreciated how bouncy the cushioning system was without ever sacrificing impact protection.

We measured the hardness of the outsole using an HC durometer, and we learned that the outsole of the Air Max Impact 4 is considerably harder than the average, 87.5 vs. 80.3. This explained why the shoe works wonders outdoors.

The midsole was subjected to caliper assessments in the lab. We found that the cushion right under the heel is quite thick (33.3 mm vs 29.0 mm average). We also loved that it compressed quite well whenever needed, effectively keeping our feet free from pain. When measured using an HA durometer, the midsole foam is also softer (25.5) than average (27.9). 

Aside from pampering our feet with its comfortable softness, it also gave us a lot of energy return. As a result, we were quite explosive as we ran past our opponents, and our jumps during rebounds and dunks were aptly energized as well.

It’s just too sad that this shoe is not really the most accommodating of wide-footers. Its actual width of 101.1 mm isn’t really more spacious than the 99.9 mm average.

Pros

  • Traction is consistently good
  • Responsive cushioning
  • Decent impact protection
  • Comfortable and well-ventilated upper
  • Dependable foot containment
  • Great for outdoor use
  • Value for money

Cons

  • Needs to be broken in
  • Not for wide-footers
Full review of Nike Air Max Impact 4

Why get basketball shoes?

Logic says that because basketball involves a lot of running, it’s OK to play in your trusty running shoes. They’ve got traction. They’ve got a cushion. They even promise durability. But are these in the right amounts?

As opposed to running shoes, good basketball shoes provide the following:

  • great multi-directional traction
  • more lateral and ankle support
  • more stable and grounded cushioning 

Great multi-directional traction

Basketball needs good traction because of the complex footwork that it requires. There are quick stops, jumping, and a lot of lateral actions. These are high-intensity movements that a shoe designed for running is not prepared for.

More lateral and ankle support

A good basketball shoe withstands immense pressure from aggressive movements. The extra torsional stiffness and higher, more padded collar make this possible.

More stable and grounded cushioning

Because of the complexity of their footwork, basketball players need to feel the court.

Too much cushion can lead to dangerous movement miscalculations, slips, and falls. That's why basketball shoes on average have thinner and firmer midsoles compared to running shoes.

  Average heel stack Average forefoot stack Average softness*
Basketball shoes 30 mm 21.5 mm

26.2 HA (10% firmer than running shoes)

Running shoes 33.5 mm 24.5 mm 23.6 HA

*based on the HA durometer measurement where the smaller number means softer.

Nike Lebron NXXT GEN Drop

Basketball shoe midsole

Saucony Endorphin Speed 3 drop

Running shoe midsole

Choosing basketball shoes based on playing position

Basketball positions allow us to predict what movements a player most likely does during the game. Basketball shoes should correspond to the needs of the wearer’s playing position.

Point/Shooting Guards

Guards are more agile and aggressive on the court. Their sudden direction changes, cuts, and crossovers call for excellent traction and ground feel in their footwear. Not-too-stiff low-top and mid-top collars are the best as they allow for ankle mobility during quick movements.

Point/Shooting Guards:  Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard, James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Luka Doncic, LaMelo Ball, Russell Westbrook, Trae Young, Ja Morant.

Small Forwards

Small Forwards require versatility to contribute both offensively and defensively. Their playing style requires more generous cushioning and stronger ankle support.

Small Forwards: Kevin Durant, Paul George, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum.

Power Forwards/Centres

Power Forwards need all the stability and impact protection that can get from a basketball shoe for the rigours of post-play. They require shoes with sturdy construction, substantial cushioning, and very strong ankle support.

Power Forwards/Centres: LeBron James, Zion Williamson, Shaquille O’Neal.

Court feel vs. impact protection

It is a rule of thumb that agile guards need a more intimate foot connection with the court while powerful forwards and centres need tonnes of cushioning. But there is also a lot of grey area in between.

Adidas D.O.N. Issue #4 outsole

To help you figure out how each basketball shoe feels underfoot, we cut each one in half in our lab to measure its heel and forefoot stack heights (a.k.a. cushioning thickness).

Nike Cosmic Unity 3 Heel stack

Based on the data from dozens of dissected midsoles, we found that you can expect a better court feel from shoes with the following characteristics:

  • heel stack lower than 28 mm
  • forefoot stack lower than 24 mm

The opposite can be applied to shoes that provide more generous cushioning and impact absorption.

Finding the best fit in basketball shoes

Of course, getting the right basketball shoe size is essential to maximising your performance. But what’s not so obvious are the factors that affect your size-related decisions.

Nike Lebron NXXT GEN fit

Even within the same brand, different basketball shoe models can have a different amount of toebox space.

Nike Lebron NXXT GEN Toebox width at the widest part

In our lab, we measure both the widest part of each shoe's forefoot and the narrower part near the big toe. This gives us a better idea of the given shoe's toebox shape. That way, you can adjust by ordering half-size bigger or smaller.

Nike Lebron NXXT GEN Toebox width at the big toe

For all the big guys out there, here is our list of the roomiest basketball shoes.

Indoor or outdoor: get the right hoop shoe

The basketball shoe industry is largely driven by the NBA. As such, brands rarely release shoes that are deliberately meant for outdoor hooping. 

But if you often play outdoors, here are a few characteristics of an outdoor-ready shoe:

how to assess a shoe’s outdoor (hi).png

We keep a category of hoop shoes that are suitable for outdoor courts in a separate category for your convenience. Before approving a shoe for outdoor use, we perform a series of tests on its outsole:

  • hardness of the rubber

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Outsole hardness

  • wear resistance of the rubber

  • thickness of the outsole

New Balance TWO WXY V4 Outsole thickness

Low-top or mid-top collar?

Up until 2008, basketball shoes have been synonymous with high collars. But it all started to change with the introduction of Kobe Bryant's first low-top signature shoe.

Low-tops quickly gained popularity among agile players whose playing style revolved around quick direction changes. This is all thanks to the greater freedom of ankle movement.

But the trend went even further, as the legendary power forward LeBron James himself introduced the low-top LeBron 20 in 2022.

nike-lebron-20-review.JPG

In our extensive research of over 30 studies on the topic, we found NO scientific evidence proving that the height of a basketball shoe collar affects athletic performance or the change of ankle/foot injury.

Thus, it all comes down to personal preference. And these days, there is a sea of options for both low-top and mid-top hoop shoes.

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.