The best men's basketball shoes to wear right now

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At a glance: The best basketball shoes for men

Your basketball shoes can be the difference between playing OK and playing great. The wrong shoes can lead to slippage, heaviness or even injury, while the best basketball shoes work with your playing style to provide a balance of support, traction and responsiveness.

If your basketball shoes haven't been delivering lately — or you're just looking to step up your game — read on. Below, we've rounded up some of the best basketball shoes for men to buy right now, including options for different stances, foot shapes, and styles

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The best men's basketball shoes for 2024

Here are our picks for the best men's basketball shoes of 2024. We created this list by running dozens of shoes and having friends play in the same shoes to give their feedback. After reviewing the shoes ourselves, we researched the experiences of other users and selected only shoes with good customer reviews that were available (at the time of writing) at reputable online retailers.

1. Nike Lebron 21

Lebron James' latest Nike sneaker — the Lebron 21 — is a tomahawk slam-dunk shoe in our opinion. After a few weeks of testing, we found the shoes to be extremely light and nimble, offering well for quick rim attacks and quick pull shots. Somehow, though, this lightness doesn't mean sacrificing support or safety. In fact, our feet felt better after the ball when using the Lebrons compared to most other shoes. In short, we highly recommend them to almost everyone.

2. Adidas AE 1

Another of the best basketball shoes we've used recently is the AE 1 from Adidas and Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards. We have only used them a few times but our initial impression is excellent. The AE 1 is one of the grippier shoes we've played, thanks to its wavy herringbone pattern outsole. The only possible turn off for some might be the futuristic design, but we think it looks exciting next to most other basketball shoes (especially in this “Deep Blue” colorway).

3. Under Armor Curry Flow 10

If you typically play as a point guard or shooting guard, consider these Under Armor Curry Flow 10s. Created with the help of all-time point guard Steph Curry, the Flow 10s place an emphasis on lightness and grip for quick changes of direction. They achieve this with an incredibly light weight (12.5 oz) and technology like the UA Warp upper, which helps lock the entire upper to your foot for less foot movement inside the shoe.

4. Air Jordan 38

For centers and power forwards, these Air Jordan 38s are a good choice. They feature a supportive high ankle and an all-new “X-Plate” in the midsole. Visible through a translucent outsole, this X-Plate helps lock the foot over the tread during sharp movements. This is useful for quick twisting to grab rebounds, fakes and spin in the key.

5. Nike Cosmic Unity 3

Most of the best basketball shoes are designed for indoor use only, even though many of us often shoot hoops outdoors. If you need a pair of kicks for the outdoor courts, get these Cosmic Unity 3's from Nike. They feature a thick, durable outsole, but Nike has kept the weight to a minimum (15.7 ounces) despite the protection. The cushioning is also excellent, holding up perfectly during long weekend tournaments in the park.

6. Adidas Harden Vol. 7

Chutes with wider feet sometimes feel cramped or like they have to grow and deal with extra toe room. If you've encountered this, consider these Harden Vol. 7s After scouring the internet for suggestions and talking to wide feet, the shoes were a clear winner as the best basketball shoe for wide feet. In addition to a comfortable fit for wide feet, the Harden 7s are a grippy, high-performance all-around shoe, and we also love the futuristic look.

7. Nike KD16

Another common complaint from hoops is a lack of arch support. If you've struggled with it, grab these Nike KD16s. Designed to stay comfortable during long workouts for back-to-back pickup games, the Kevin Durant shoes feature a supportive sole and plush, balanced cushioning throughout. It's slightly heavier with that extra filling, but it's worth it for some.

Basketball Shoe Buying Guide

Not sure how to choose the right pair of basketball shoes? Here are some things to consider when shopping.

Position: Point and shooting guards typically want lighter, faster shoes that won't lag when the player is shooting the hoop or taking the three. Centers and power forwards, on the other hand, often look for high-top shoes with added support to facilitate quick, small changes of direction (like the fake). Of course, some shoes offer a mix of all of the above (the Lebron 21s are like that), but it's a good idea to consider your playing style and typical position before shopping.

Suitable: Basketball shoes should be very comfortable, but you'll also want to consider double socks (if you do this) and foot swelling during long sessions. Generally, there should be a half inch to an inch of space at the top of your shoes.

Style: There's no shame in wanting to look good on the field. Feeling confident is a great way to play better. Make sure you pick a shoe or a color that you'll like to look at when you're tying the laces.

How we picked the best basketball shoes

We created this collection by strapping on dozens of pairs of basketball shoes and noting not only how they performed in the game, but also how they wore and how our feet felt the next day. After picking our favorites, we threw in reviews from experts and real customers for comparison. Once we had our finalists, we made sure they were available (as of this writing) at reputable retailers and had at least an average customer rating of 3.7/5 stars.