Best Basketball Shoes of 2023
By Sofian Diouan & Harshaan Singh
When you're playing a sport as competitive as basketball, whether it be at a park or on an actual team, you always want to make sure you're performing at your best to ensure good results. One part of that is your equipment, more specifically your shoes, with them being able to offer you a variety of advantages while also keeping you comfortable over long periods of time to help ensure your best performance
At a retail price point of $160 Steph Curry’s latest signature shoes, the Curry 11’s implement Under Armour’s new Flow technology which is basically a foam midsole which acts as both cushioning and traction allowing for elite performance when being fully utilized. Fitting true to size its cushioning has seen the biggest upgrade since previous models boasting a new dual-density cushioning setup rather than the older slab of uniform flow foam underfoot which was less comfortable for wearers. When it comes to traction on the Curry 11’s there is no shortage of it, although it might feel off to play with the new technology at first, after getting used to it you’ll realize that its foam compound grips the court significantly better than traditional outsoles and also due to it having no rubber sole it offers considerable weight reduction.
At a retail price of $190 it’s more expensive than other basketball shoes tend to be but it makes up for it with its great reputation to back it up with it largely being considered as one of the best performance basketball shoes ever made which is a strong title to boast. Nonetheless its specs back up said title too with the traction after being broken in being great as expected due to the soles being constructed with a combination of translucent and solid rubber with a snake scale traction pattern which boasts great multi-directional coverage. When it comes to comfortability there should be nothing to worry about with the Protro Reverse Grinch’s being a step up from the original Protro soles with Nike subbing out there phylon for Cushlon which allows for a good responsive experience on court while also having enough impact protection to keep you going well.
The Zion 3’s currently sit at a modest retail price of $140 with it being not the cheapest or most expensive shoe on this list but more of a middle ground. Although zions previous shoe models have been going in a steady direction it seems this one has chosen to go down a different path but it still has a lot of captivating performance features. When it comes to traction as long as the shoe is being used indoors on a clean surface there shouldn’t be any problems but when it comes to dusty surfaces it seems the shoe starts to have its fallouts but makes up for it with it holding up well when it comes to outdoor use. Although there might be some downsides when it comes to traction it seems the same can't be said for cushioning and support thanks to the Zion 3’s support features being very well thought out with them being able to offer safe supportive gameplay on court while staying lightweight and low profile.
At a very modest price point of $120 the Tatum 1’s are a great budget choice that also still has performance features that help you compete with more expensive alternatives. Thanks to the shoes unique traction setup it cuts down the shoes weight considerably while also maintaining excellent indoor performance traction wise thanks to its traction setup that's very similar to the under armor flow technology showcased in the Curry 11’s but unfortunately it does lack when it comes to outdoor use. When it comes to comfortability the holes on both sides of the zoom unit allow it to expand and extract allowing for it to give you the maximum amount of cushioning possible while performing at your best.
The Ja 1s at a retail price of $110 have a solid rubber outsole. It has a very aggressive traction pattern that relates a lot to the Kyrie low 5 which leads to it being an excellent indoor and outdoor shoe. The Ja 1 has a lightweight Phylon midsole with a small top- loaded zoom air unit. This Phylon midsole is a very reactive and low-to-the-ground on-court experience. If you are looking for a reactive and stable cushioning setup with a lot of court feel, this will be a great option.
The Lebron 21 at a retail price of $200 is a great shoe that you can think of buying when it comes to basketball shoes. When it comes to traction, it is very similar to the lebron 20s which is a great thing. The shoe features a translucent rubber outsole with a unique traction pattern. The rubber compound is on the softer side, which is great for indoor use, but not so much so for outdoor use. The Cushlon is a midsole which houses a Zoom Turbo unit in the forefoot and a large volume. The Nike Lebron fits true to size and is a great shoe to wear on the court.
The New Balance two wxy v3 is a shoe that we recommend, and it appears on several of our best basketball shoe lists. One great thing about this shoe is their traction. It is an abstract pattern based around circles in high-contact sports. The circles actually make a suction-cup “POP” sound when walking that you can hear and that’s exactly what they feel like on court. New Balance is using a FuelCell midsole with ABZORB inserts in the heel and forefoot. The ABZORB feels quick and stable and, again, not a lot of soft compression but the stiffer setup feels quick. There is great support when it comes to the support. The foot sits down well in the midsole. With the wide base and stiff cushioning, elevating for jumpers while moving is easy.
The Luka 2 sits at a retail price of $130 is a good shoe to buy. The traction is the same as the previous Luka 1 with the same radial traction pattern and the same translucent rubber. The one big drawback of this shoe is that it’s not good for outdoor use, so make sure to keep them indoors. The cushion of the Luka 2 is the same Jordans Formula 23 Foam with a 3.0 midsole carrier which is a very dense and reactive setup with not the best impact protection. The materials on the Luka 2 are way better than the Luka 1. The new materials on the upper will provide better lockdown and containment. The Luka 2 is also true to size, but it is also slightly stiff at first, and you will have to break them in.
