Basketball Shoe Reviews

WearTesters Basketball Shoe Reviews are in-depth assessments and performance reviews of basketball shoes in real-world conditions (here you can check out our testing methodology). We evaluate fit, cushion, materials, traction, support, durability, pricing, and overall value.

You can check out our full list of the best basketball shoes if you are looking for the best of the best, our list of the best outdoor basketball shoes if you are an outdoor hooper, or our best budget basketball shoe list if you want to get the most bang for your buck.

That being said, these are top 5 performance basketball shoes right now are:

Way of Wade 11

The Way of Wade 11 is another impressive flagship model from Way of Wade and an improvement on an already great model in the Way of Wade 10. With the Way of Wade 11 you’ll be getting reliable traction with a unique, story-driven outsole design that promises to excel indoors.

You’ll also get exceptional responsiveness and stability from the full-length Boom midsole and EVA foot frame carrier and a much-improved material setup. Stability and lockdown should also be great and that “customized” carbon fiber shank plate will be elite. This is the best-looking and feeling Way of Wade model to date. Read full review. Price: $225. Overall score 9/10. 

Nike LeBron 22

If you like older LeBron James signature models, you will like the LeBron 22. Overall, the Nike LeBron 22 is a powerful performance shoe that caters to players seeking robust support, responsive cushioning, and enhanced stability. It’s not the Kobe-adjacent-feeling shoe that the LeBron 20 was, or even the more substantial version of that that the LeBron 21 was. The LeBron 22 is ideal for heavier, more powerful players who thrive on stability and support. Simply put, this is a shoe designed for a player like LeBron James. Read full review. Price: $179. Overall score 9/10.

#nike_FZ1094-101

Nike GT Jump 2

It’s nice to see the changes Nike made in this shoe. They have taken everything that was great in the first model and tweaked it to make the GT Jump 2 that much better as a performance basketball shoe. It also makes the Nike GT Jump 2 a more accessible model for the majority of basketball players out there who need the added reactiveness and stability.

The Nike GT Jump is a great hoop shoe, but it’s better suited for larger, heavier players, and the GT Jump 2 feels like a more well-balanced shoe, that a wider audience will enjoy. Read the full review. Price $180. Overall score 9/10.

#nike_DJ9431-401

adidas Dame 9

The Adidas Dame 9 strikes a great balance between comfort, support, and style. Its traction pattern provides reliable grip indoors and the Lightstrike cushioning system delivers a plush, responsive feel, making it one of the more comfortable shoes in the Dame series. While not premium, the synthetic leather materials offer durability and a structured feel that complements the shoe’s performance-oriented design. And it retails for just $120. Read full review. Price $120. Overall score 9/10.

Curry 12

The Curry 12 is currently the best Curry basketball shoe hands down. With this shoe, you are getting everything you have come to know and love from Curry’s signature shoes with better cushioning and better traction. Under Armour was able to achieve this impressive result by paying attention to the actual science that goes into designing performance footwear and making a small adjustment.

But the story doesn’t end there. This small but critical change also makes this shoe accessible to a much wider audience than any other Curry of the past, as this shoe will suit the on-court requirements of a wider range of hoopers. Read the full review. Price: $140. Overall score 9’5/10.

We also have lists of :

• The best basketball shoes by brand
• The best basketball shoes for wide feet
• The best basketball shoes for players with flat feet
• The best traction basketball shoe
• The best low tops
• The best high tops
• The lightest basketball shoes
• The most comfortable basketball shoes
• The best basketball shoes for ankle support
• The best retro basketball shoes