Whether you’re new to basketball, enjoy casual pickup games, or have been playing the sport for years, the right pair of basketball shoes is essential – and not just for style. “Picking the right basketball shoes is super important for performance and injury prevention,” says professional basketball coach and scout Moses Jean-Pierre, the co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit Hoops for Haiti. From providing ankle support with high collars to absorbing impact with cushioned insoles, the right pair can make all the difference on the court, Jean-Pierre explains to PS.
To help you find the perfect pair of basketball shoes, we also turned to women’s sports networking platform LaunchBreak to seek out the expert advice of four pro and collegiate basketball players who know first hand what to look for in a basketball shoe. Ahead, find their best tips on basketball shoes gained through years of experience on the court, plus, shop all their favorite pairs.
How to Choose the Best Basketball Shoes
There’s no one-size-fits-all basketball shoe – your ideal pair depends on your role on the court and your personal preferences, which may evolve over time. However, our experts agree there are six key factors to consider when shopping for basketball shoes to ensure peak performance: weight, support, fit, traction, cushioning, and style.
Weight: You might assume lightweight shoes are a better choice but it depends how you play. “If you are a quicker player you might want a lighter shoe, but if you’re someone who plays at a slower pace and needs to be balanced, a heavier shoe like a Lebron could work,” mentions WNBA player Kaitlyn Davis, a New York Liberty forward and the team’s 2024 WNBA third round draft pick. Shoes with lots of structural reinforcements and thicker midsoles tend to be heavier while those made with mesh and knit tend to be lighter.
Support: Basketball shoes are designed to offer ankle support and lateral stability, typically influenced by the shoe’s height (low, mid, or high top). The type of support you need will depend on your playing style, Jean-Pierre says. “Ankle high-tops are good if you need strong support for your style of play, like most centers and power forwards do. They give good side-to-side support, and sometimes they even help you jump higher,” he explains. “If you play guard and all you want is the fastest and best shoes for getting away from defenders, then you probably wear low-top shoes – actually, you should be wearing low-tops. Many of the best guards in the NBA wear low-tops.” For a balance of both mobility and support, opt for mid-tops, as they offer moderate ankle support but don’t sacrifice too much agility.
Fit: Getting a pair of basketball shoes that fit well goes beyond matching your shoe size. “Shoes should feel like an extension of your foot when you’re playing,” Jean-Pierre says. “And make sure your toes have room in the shoes to decrease the risk of blisters,” says Denise Solis, who played college basketball for Temple University. Don’t be afraid to size up or down from your normal size because a well-fitted basketball shoe ensures not only comfort but also stability on the court.
Traction: Since basketball involves quick cuts and sudden directional changes, most basketball shoes by default are designed with traction in mind. However, you still want to pay attention to the tread pattern. Look for a multi-directional tread pattern that supports both lateral and vertical movements. Even if you don’t think you’ll be moving very fast on the court, a shoe with good traction can still help prevent you from sliding or losing balance. Also consider the hardness of tread, as softer treads tend to have better grip but wear down faster, while harder treads are less grippy but more durable.
Cushioning: Cushioning in a basketball shoe isn’t just there to make your feet comfy or prevent them soreness after a long game, it also plays a role in shock absorption. “You do a lot of jumping and running, so you better have a shoe that cushions you when you land,” Jean-Pierre tells us. “Landing is the most important part of jumping.” Look for shoes with cushioning in high impact areas like the heel and forefoot so that it helps absorb the shock when you land, reducing the impact on your knees, ankles, and lower back. You may be tempted to reach for shoes with the thickest cushioning, but while comfortable, overly thick cushioning can actually compromise mobility, making it harder to be quick on your feet.
Style: Basketball player Mikayla Rowan, a former collegiate athlete at University of Southern Indiana, encourages finding a balance between style and function when choosing basketball shoes. “It’s all good to have a set of criteria that you would like in purchasing a shoe, but definitely be okay with expanding your horizons. And get the sickest colorway that you can because it definitely makes you play better,” she says. However style should never overshadow performance. Don’t get a shoe just because it’s trending, advises Lucy Chinelo, a professional basketball player in France and a former D1 athlete. “But go with something that gives you confidence to play without worries.”
Ahead, you’ll find the top 8 recommendations for basketball shoes from coaches and players. Several of the shoes come in men’s sizes, so if you’re trying to figure out how to shop, just add 1.5 to your women’s shoes size and you’ll get your size in men’s.
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Most Durable Basketball Shoes
Nike Cosmic Unity 3 ($137)
These basketball shoes are made with a thin yet durable rubber outsole, ideal for players who frequently practice on outdoor courts, or who have a more aggressive playing style that tends to wear down shoes faster. These shoes feature Flymesh material in the midfoot, Flyknit collar around the ankles, and foam cushioning in the midsole, which work together to provide stability and a grounded feel without adding excessive weight.
Expert quote: “These are made out of recycled materials – love – and are also made a tad bit more durable so they can be used outside as well,” Rowan says about the Nike Cosmic Unity 3 shoes, which she wears in the “Bring It Outside” colorway. “I play a lot of pick-up at both indoor and outdoor courts so these have been perfect for me. They’re a little bit heavy – comes with the durability – but I am a post player typically, so I’m not making any super quick cuts where I would need a lighter shoe.”
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Best Lightweight Basketball Shoes
Nike Hyperdunk 2017 Low Mens Basketball Trainers Sneakers Shoes ($60 and up)
Because of their lightweight construction, low collar, and lack of straps, Nike Hyperdunk 2017 shoes allow you to move faster and more freely on the court. While some lightweight basketball shoes tend to compromise traction, these have a pressure-mapped outsole, which means the more weight you put on a certain part of your foot, the grippier it will feel, giving you stability only where you need it most.
Expert quote: “I look for how high the shoe is because of my ankles. I also look for how light the shoe is and the cushion of their sole so I don’t have to buy extra cushions,” Chinelo says of her choice to play in Nike Hyperdunks, which she describes as her favorite basketball shoes. Praising the design and construction, she notes, “I don’t like the straps on new basketball shoes because it’s distracting and comes off during games.”
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Most Stylish Basketball Shoes
Nike Sabrina 1 Basketball Shoes ($150)
Designed in collaboration with WNBA player Sabrina Ionescu, these Nikes stand out for their bold colors and sleek design, which you can even customize on the brand’s website. The Nike Sabrinas aren’t just about looks, however. They’re also equipped with features including a midfoot band system to help keep your feet from shifting, Zoom Air in the forefoot for added bounce and agility, and React foam cushioning for enhanced comfort and impact protection. We also tested the Sabrina 2s ($130) earlier this year and former health and fitness director, Mirel Zaman, praised the shoes for having hugged her foot and arch, offering a sense of support and security while running and jumping on the court.
Expert quote: “I loved how comfortable and light they felt while on the court. I also loved the soft pink color,” Solis recalls of playing basketball in these shoes. Rowan also spoke highly of the Sabrinas, adding, “I’ve never heard a bad thing about them. They also look great.”
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Best Basketball Shoes for Traction
Nike Ja 1 Basketball Shoes ($150)
The Ja 1 basketball shoes offer exceptional traction not only due to the deep multidirectional tread on the soles, but also the containment system and forefoot strap that help you maintain balance. The cushioning, located in both the forefoot and midsole, also distributes force evenly across your whole foot so you get a good grip on the court when you land.
Expert quote: “My go-to pair this past basketball season was the Ja 1s,” says Solis. “They had great grip on the court, good support, and were very comfortable once I broke them in.”
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Best Basketball Shoes For Jumping
Nike Zoom Kobe 6 Protro Basketball Shoes ($299-$651)
Thanks to Zoom Air cushioning technology in the forefoot, Nike Zoom Kobe 6 Protro basketball shoes have a responsive and spring-like quality that makes it perfect for jumps and sprints. The lightweight material and low-cut collar offer plenty of flexibility, while the heel of the shoe provides stability and support.
Expert quote: “As someone who jumps a lot on the court, it’s nice to have a shoe that is light, yet still supports your feet from the ground up,” Davis tells us of the Nike Zoom Kobe 6 Proto, which she describes as her “go-to pair.”
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Most Versatile Basketball Shoes
Nike Lebron XXI ($90 and up)
The Nike Lebron basketball shoe is a versatile option because of its unique cabling system. Integrated into the shoe’s mesh upper, these strong yet flexible cables tighten and adjust according to how your foot moves. The result is a shoe that gives you both stability and flexibility to accommodate different playing styles.
Expert quote: “You can’t always tell just by looking at it, but this shoe is really versatile. I think it fits almost perfectly between shoes that are mainly for support and those that are mostly about responsiveness,” says Jean-Pierre.
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Best Basketball Shoes Made For Women
Moolah Womens Neovolt Pro v2 ($125)
Moolah basketball shoes are designed to better accommodate the anatomical features of many women’s feet, which according to the brand, translates to a more narrow heel, lifted arch, slimmer width, and shallow lateral side. These Moolah Neovolt Pro v2 shoes also have a webbing lacing system that contours to the shape of your foot, a reinforced toe cap for added protection, and high-abrasion rubber treads on the outsole for durability. Additionally, the EVA foam midsole provides cushioning and shock absorption to keep you as comfortable as possible during every move.
Expert quote: “Some shoes are just not made for women’s feet so it’s good to take that into account especially when it comes to ankle support or the weight of the shoe,” Davis says. Moolah shoes emerged as a favorite among all the basketball players we consulted, with Rowan noting that “a lot of other women I play with wear them.”
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Best Basketball Shoes For Ankle Support
Adidas Harden Vol 2 Basketball Shoes ($201-$487)
Ankle support usually comes from the height of the collar and structure, but in the Adidas Harden Vol. 2 shoes, it also comes from the knit material, which is designed to hug your ankle and foot so it won’t shift around inside the shoe during dynamic plays. These shoes also feature a full-length Boost midsole, which absorbs the impact of your movements to help reduce stress on your ankles.
Expert quote: “In college, I played in a pair of Harden Vol 2s and loved them but wore them out over the years,” Rowan shares. “There is an elastic ankle collar that really locks your foot in. I’m not super prone to rolling my ankles but I think if you were, the collars would still help with some stability.”
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Kalea Martín writes primarily about food and cooking for PS, but as a former figure skater and hockey player, she covers fitness, too. Prior to becoming a lifestyle writer, Kalea covered hotels, restaurants, and travel for Luxos Magazine in Milan and worked in marketing at HarperCollins Publishers.
