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🏆  In a hurry?  Here’s our #1 pick:  

What are the best basketball shoes?

If you’re looking for a great, basketball shoes, our top rated pick is the Adidas Performance Men’s Crazy Explosive Basketball Shoes.

When you have the best basketball shoes on your feet, you improve your game and reduce the risk of injury.

Picture yourself playing basketball and having a good time, when all of a sudden, your feet are in intense pain because you aren’t wearing proper basketball shoes.

What can you do besides sit out on the sidelines and watch everyone else play? If only you had a good pair of shoes specifically designed to support your feet while running the court and shooting hoops.

If you’re serious about playing basketball, then buying the best shoes out there is important.

Basketball shoes provide traction on the court and give your ankles much-needed shock absorption.

Listed below are the ten best basketball shoes that range from the best in comfort to the best in ankle support.

Of course, there are cons to each shoe, but they’re outweighed by the pros. Don’t look at the name brand, look at the features and design of the shoe to evaluate the quality.

To help you decide on the perfect basketball shoe for your needs, we’ve put together this list of the best options for you to strap on before your next game.

Give one of these top rated basketball shoes from this list a shot and discover how proper sports footwear can elevate your game on the court.

Of all the sports out there, basketball is the only one for which the shoes they wear to play the game can also be worn on the street with no alterations. Basketball shoes are extremely popular for streetwear. 

They tend to be heavier than running shoes or cross-trainers, but thanks to some of the new materials being developed, they are much lighter than they were 30 years ago. 

To protect the feet away from injury, basketball shoes are very comfortable and durable because they are made for an intense sport which requires support, stability, comfort, durability, and good shock absorption.

Picture Title Votes  
Adidas Performance Mens Crazy Explosive Basketball Shoes Adidas Performance Men’s Crazy Explosive Basketball Shoes 126 Check Price
Nike Air Jordan Mens 4 Retro Basketball Shoes Nike Air Jordan Men’s 4 Retro Basketball Shoes 98 Check Price
Nike Mens Hyperdunk 2016 Basketball Shoes Nike Men’s Hyperdunk 2016 Basketball Shoes 91 Check Price
Under Armour ClutchFit Drive 2 Basketball Shoes Under Armour ClutchFit Drive 2 Basketball Shoes 89 Check Price
Under Armour Mens Curry 3 Basketball Shoes Under Armour Men’s Curry 3 Basketball Shoes 79 Check Price
Adidas NEO Mens Vs Hoops Mid Basketball Shoes Adidas NEO Men’s Vs Hoops Mid Basketball Shoes 67 Check Price
Nike Mens Air Force 1 Mid 07 Basketball Shoes Nike Men’s Air Force 1 Mid ’07 Basketball Shoes 63 Check Price
Under Armour Mens Micro G Assert 6 Running Shoes Under Armour Men’s Micro G Assert 6 Running Shoes 59 Check Price
Nike Mens Air Jordan 1 Retro High Basketball Shoes Nike Men’s Air Jordan 1 Retro High Basketball Shoes 52 Check Price
Adidas Performance Mens Cloudfoam Ilation Mid Basketball Shoes Adidas Performance Men’s Cloudfoam Ilation Mid Basketball Shoes 35 Check Price
Adidas Performance Men’s Crazy Explosive Basketball Shoes
Adidas Performance Mens Crazy Explosive Basketball Shoes
This pair from Adidas are the best basketball shoes for shock absorption. Shock to the feet can result in long-lasting damage. With the BOOST cushioning, this provides the ultimate shock absorber and quickly returns to its original shape.

These sneakers come in 13 colors. The upper part of the sho…
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Nike Air Jordan Men’s 4 Retro Basketball Shoes
Nike Air Jordan Mens 4 Retro Basketball Shoes
If you have ankle trouble while playing sports or exercising, these are the best basketball shoes for ankle support.

The Nike Air Jordan’s have a unique strap on each side for ankle support. Strap these babies on, and your ankles will be in heaven.

These retro designed basketball shoes come in …
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Nike Men’s Hyperdunk 2016 Basketball Shoes
Nike Mens Hyperdunk 2016 Basketball Shoes
Imagine yourself making sharp turns while psyching your opponent out. You need supportive shoes for these moves.

According to real reviewers on Amazon, these may be the best Nike basketball shoes for ankle support, and you can tell just by looking at their construction.

The high-top collar provide…
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Under Armour ClutchFit Drive 2 Basketball Shoes
Under Armour ClutchFit Drive 2 Basketball Shoes
If you’re tired of your foot moving around in your shoe, then this is the best basketball shoe to keep your foot locked in place.

The Micro G® sock liner keeps your foot locked in place and provides cushion.

The updated UA ClutchFit™ technology is like a second skin to your foot, which provid…
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Under Armour Men’s Curry 3 Basketball Shoes
Under Armour Mens Curry 3 Basketball Shoes
To have a shoe that fits perfectly to your feet is a dream. These are the best basketball shoes that form to your feet.

The upper is molded synthetic so it fits your foot better. Think of it as a sock that shapes to your foot.

There are 16 color options for these shoes.

The external shell provi…
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Adidas NEO Men’s Vs Hoops Mid Basketball Shoes
Adidas NEO Mens Vs Hoops Mid Basketball Shoes
Shoes typically last for two to three years, but many customers who reviewed the Adidas NEO have said that theirs lasted longer due to the quality of these shoes.

These are the best basketball shoes for long-lasting wear. The design of these classic looking basketball shoes is perfect for providin…
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Nike Men’s Air Force 1 Mid ’07 Basketball Shoes
Nike Mens Air Force 1 Mid 07 Basketball Shoes
Not only is comfort something important to search for while shopping for shoes, but shoes that can hold up to constant running.

These shoes are the best basketball shoes for running.

They come equipped with Nike’s Air Sole Technology in the hell and Air Unit in the mid-sole.

The Air Sole and Ai…
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Under Armour Men’s Micro G Assert 6 Running Shoes
Under Armour Mens Micro G Assert 6 Running Shoes
When you’re on the move whether it’s on the court or exercising, these Under Armour shoes will provide comfort whether it’s during basketball or on your daily run.

These are the best basketball shoes for a lightweight feel. Weighing only 9.2 ounces, these shoes are so light that you will feel…
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Nike Men’s Air Jordan 1 Retro High Basketball Shoes
Nike Mens Air Jordan 1 Retro High Basketball Shoes
These are the best basketball shoes for flexibility. The Air Unit inside the rubber cupsole provides just that for your feet. These come in 9 colors including some modern, metallic styles.

It’s made from synthetic leather material, which makes it difficult to get dirty.

There is a concentric …
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Adidas Performance Men’s Cloudfoam Ilation Mid Basketball Shoes
Adidas Performance Mens Cloudfoam Ilation Mid Basketball Shoes
Basketball can do damage to your feet if you play often, and especially if you play roughly.

One of the important things to look for when shopping for basketball shoes is comfort.

These Adidas shoes are the best basketball shoes for comfort. Their patented CLOUDFOAM sock liner and mid-sole provide…
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The Adidas Performance Men’s Crazy Explosive Basketball Shoes had to be our top pick for the best basketball shoes. One of the many important reasons is that they provide exceptional ankle support, which can be quite helpful in high impact training. 

Due to its high elasticity and shock absorbing properties, it can protect your feet from long-lasting damage. On top of that, they are pretty lightweight, weighing nearly 15 ounces, because it is made of textile and synthetic material. 

Moreover, its midsole has a thermoplastic polyurethane wrap to keep it from wearing out. Furthermore, these sneakers come in 13 colors and because the upper part of the shoe is Xeno, it appears as an optical illusion in the picture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions we came across while putting together this review:

Long story short: Yes, you can use running shoes for playing basketball but you should take into account its negative impact on comfort, performance, and safety. It also depends on how you intend to play the game! If you are just shooting around and not playing competitively, running shoes are fine.

But if you play competitively you’ll have to do lateral movements, your running shoes are not intended for that, your foot will likely to slide inside of the shoe and your ankles are at high risk of rolling over.

Basketball shoes and running shoes are quite different from one another. Running shoes are designed for one movement of the foot and to withstand long distances.

While basketball shoes are designed for multidirectional movements and to keep up with strenuous demands. Running shoes doesn't have ankle support since you don't need to change directions quickly while basketball shoes do, to rapidly change directions.

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