If you want to trace the origin of the sneaker industry, it will lead back to basketball in the 80s. We’re not saying that kicks weren’t relevant before that, but the 1980s was a significant turning point. All the stars were still active in that era, and the rookie Michael Jordan was making waves on and off the court. His shoes were best-sellers, and Nike was introducing the new Nike Dunk line for college hoopers. So, it only makes sense that basketball kicks are at the core of lifestyle and performance! But what are the best basketball shoes on the market today? Let’s find out together.
Best Basketball Shoes – 2023 Edition
Sneaker technology came a really long way, with brands always looking for the next best thing. The result? We got some excellent performance and lifestyle kicks! What we’re getting at is that this list only has 6 performance kicks. However, this does not mean that the ones we didn’t mention aren’t good! After all, the best basketball shoes are the ones that can keep your feet comfortable. So, let’s check our list out, shall we?
Air Jordan 37 & 36
The Air Jordan 37 is the latest addition to the Air Jordan legacy, and well, it didn’t disappoint. Although at first sight, it looks too bulky, it’s actually one of the best basketball shoes on the market today! However, all kicks have drawbacks, so they’re understandably not for everyone. And what AJ37 lacks, Jordan 36 makes up for it. So if the 37th silhouette doesn’t work for you, Jordan 36 can work equally well!
Nike Kyrie 8 Infinity
Although the Nike x Kyrie partnership ended at the end of 2022, hoopers will still rock a pair. In fact, the last silhouette, the Kyrie 8 Infinity, is one of the best basketball kicks out there. From the support to cushioning, it’s pretty impressive. Sadly, not many pairs are available out there, so you might want to look for an alternative. Don’t worry though, because Kyrie 6, an older collaborative pair, provides similar features!
Nike LeBron 20
LeBron is understandably one of the most important Nike athletes today with a lifetime deal under his belt. And the latest addition to his athletic line is the LeBron XX. These babies were LeBron’s first venture into low-top kicks after all his high-top and three-quarter kicks. And well, the 20s provided a sleek design with great performance and good fit. That’s why it rightfully earned a place among the best basketball shoes!
Jordan Luka 1
Jordan Brand naturally became its own entity with its own athletes! And when he signed with JB in 2019, Luka Doncic became the sixth Jumpman athlete. However, his first signature pair didn’t drop until 2022, and boy, it did not disappoint! So, if you want an impressive performance shoe at an affordable price, the Jordan Luka 1 is it. Oh, and the brand introduced their new cushioning foam with these babies, so there’s that.
Nike KD 15
Kevin Durant became the third basketball to sign a lifetime contract with Nike. And naturally, his kicks are as good as his playing on the court. But one of our absolute favorites is the Nike KD 15. In addition to being a great performance shoe, it’s a low-top! And everyone loves a low-top pair of sneakers on the court.
Under Armour Curry 10
Last but not least, Under Armour earned a place on this list with their star athlete Stephen Curry. Curry’s signature line is consistently one of the best out there. And Under Armour Curry 10 takes the bar even higher when it comes to basketball kicks. You’ll especially like these babies if you have wide feet! So make sure you do your research well.
Conclusion
So that’s a wrap on our list of the best basketball shoes of 2023! Now, no matter which kicks you choose, you gotta keep something in mind. Even the most impressive basketball kicks won’t make you a baller if you don’t have the talent. And you can be the best player with just about any pair of basketball shoes. So make sure you have both kicks and talent if you wanna be a kicka$$ player!