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Given the popularity of the NBA and its roster of star athletes, basketball is a sport more readily associated with men than women. Hence, it comes as no surprise that shoes and other apparel created for this sport have the male anatomy in mind.
In this article, we take a look at the most suitable shoes for men that we have verified on our series of tests. They are the ones that truly made a mark after we scrutinized more than 200 shoes from big sports brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour.
Of course, this does not mean that there are no women’s basketball shoes. Female fans are as real as their male counterparts, and their needs deserve unique attention. We have a separate page for the best If Jordans are your thing.
Best men's basketball shoes overall
Russell Westbrook Air Jordan 30.5 PE Hybrid?
Pros
- Sneakers alte Air Jordan 1
- Great traction
- Tremendous impact protection
- Pronounced court feel
- Dependable bounciness
- Comfortable upper
- Incredible foot containment
- Nike Air Jordan 36 FirstI LightI 27.5cm
Cons
- Air Jordan 1 Retro High 129
- Has to be broken in
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Best men's basketball shoes for outdoor courts
Russell Westbrook Air Jordan 30.5 PE Hybrid?
Pros
- Consistent grip on different surfaces
- Dust-resistant outsole
- Air Jordan 4 'Oreo' Official Images
- Bouncy midsole
- Secure heel counter
- Well-ventilated upper
- Feels light
- Nike Jordan Utility Pack woven jumpsuit in black
Cons
- Not for wide-footers
- Lacks flexiblity
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Men's basketball shoes with the best court feel
Russell Westbrook Air Jordan 30.5 PE Hybrid?
Pros
- Jordan Adg 4 Me
- Tremendous support
- Air jordan 5 retro q54 quai 54 2021
- Reliable energy return
- True-to-size fit
- Breathable
- Good for bigger men
- Nike Jordan Utility Pack woven jumpsuit in black
- Casual style
Cons
- Dust-prone outsole
- Another Shot at Buying the Bred Air Jordan 11 Low
- Poler Jordan PSG
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Men's basketball shoes with the best lockdown
Russell Westbrook Air Jordan 30.5 PE Hybrid?
Pros
- Good traction on clean courts
- Air Jordan 1 Low Sneakers Schwarz
- Forefoot responsiveness
- Secure lockdown
- Air Jordan 1 Mid SE 'Turf Orange' DD6834 802
- Side-to-side stability
- Wide-foot friendly
- Okay for outdoor courts
Cons
- Dust magnet
- Nike Jordan Zion Flight Dri Fit Basketball Crew Socks 2 Pairs White Black 8-11
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Joe Johnson turning the corner in the Jordan Prime 5 Black Varsity Red-Metallic Silver | Best lightweight basketball shoes for men
Russell Westbrook Air Jordan 30.5 PE Hybrid?
Pros
- Noticeable upgrades
- Air Jordan 13 Low 'Bred' Beauty Shots
- Dust-resistant outsole
- Smooth steps
- Air jordan 1 low gs vintage grey white sail kid youth women shoe 553560-053
- 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
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Best value men's basketball shoes
Russell Westbrook Air Jordan 30.5 PE Hybrid?
Pros
- Traction is consistently good
- Responsive cushioning
- Decent impact protection
- Fat Joe in the Air Jordan 3 UNC
- Jordan drawstring-fastening track pants
- Great for outdoor use
- Joe Johnson turning the corner in the Jordan Prime 5 Black Varsity Red-Metallic Silver
Cons
- Dwyane Wades Jordan Fly Wade 2
- Not for wide-footers
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Most popular men's basketball shoes
What makes it the most popular?
Pros
- Impressive grip
- Nike Air Jordan 1 Mid Triple White GS UK6 EU40 100% Authentic
- Amazing energy return
- The lateral side of the Air Jordan 1 Element Light Curry
- Breathable
- No-frills foot lockdown
- Stable steps
- Jordan Brand is beginning to lament
Cons
- Cheap-feeling materials
- Air Jordan 1 Retro High 129
Joe Johnson turning the corner in the Jordan Prime 5 Black Varsity Red-Metallic Silver | Today's best price
Comparison of the 7 best basketball shoes for men
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How we test basketball shoes
It is important to keep our reviews as free from bias as possible. Here’s what we do to stay objective:
- We buy the shoes using our own money. No sponsorships. No X-deals. We are as much consumers of these shoes as you are.
- We test the shoes in actual games; not just mere footwork tests/training. We are a group of testers here, so our experiences are diverse. You’d know who reviewed that because we keep our author bios open.
- We do more testing inside our lab and this includes breaking the shoes into pieces. We measure some parameters of the shoes, while we score the others, depending on the feature. For example, we rate the longitudinal and torsional flex (flexing of the shoe using our bare hands and own strength) from 1 to 5, with 5 being the stiffest. Finding the resistance of the shoes to bending, on the other hand, necessitates our digital force gauge, which mechanically records a value or measurement.