I was asked to make a list… a list featuring 25 of the best basketball shoes that have released within the last 5 years.
If you want to check out that list then all you have to do is click HERE.
Let me know what you think down below!
UA Project Rock BSR 4 Performance Review
The UA Project Rock BSR 4 arrived for testing amidst a huge resurgence by the Rock (though he…
Love it!! Things like this and top 10 of 12, etc is the what I keep looking forward to, keep up the good work as always nw
Great list. All of those 25 are truly great shoes.
i miss my wades, i sold them for half the price when i got money problems. i got the 2010 reg and outdoors now though. great fit kept them light enough.
I got a question. Only 3 of the shoes on your top 10 list are on that list. Sp why arent those shoes on their?
Sorry had to type last question quick. So why aren’t the shoes on that list of the top 25 on your top 10.
I thought it would be unfair to just use the top ten list for 2012 for this bc they are obviously good performance shoes but then what about the past 4 years? What I did was pick about 5 – give or take for some years – of the best performing shoes from each year from 2008 to 2012. That way it was fair IMO. Its a cop out IMO to just say, well these are all better bc they are newer when in fact it isnt true at all. Some of the shoes on the 25 list are better than the top ten and visa versa.
Did you put this list together, Nightwing? I didn’t know you liked Puremotion so much. Great list. Nice to see the Supernatural Creators making the top 10!
I am surprised to see the Supernatural Commanders there. Did you not find them too restrictive?
Where’s the adipower howard 2?!!!!!!!!!!?!!!!!!
They arent on the list
You should make a “top 10 shoes for quick guards” who like to stay close to the ground. I think anybody who isn’t over 6’4 and/or really heavy and who hasn’t played in a low to the ground shoe doesn’t know what he’s missing. There’s really no need to sit higher than on kobes/fw2/rose …
Hello Nightwing. I love the list. I am curious of why you put the Rose 3.0 2nd in your top 10 but on this list it is above the Lebron 10’s. I agree that the Rose 3.0 is a better shoe but I am curious as to how u they changed.
The top ten list is compiled based on overall scores while the top 25 was just a list i was asked to make so i just used my personal opinion.
Great job on that list. I surfed around that site and yours is the best article by far on there.
Thanks!
Hey, do you own a pair of the Rose 1.5?
I didn’t see any review for that shoe.
Awesome read, love to see lists.
One very big surprise was the Li Ning Turning Point was placed quite high(#10) and the Fly Wade 2 placed relatively low(#15). I thought the Fly Wade was your #1 shoe of 2011 so it was a bit of shock to see it that low. Just wanted to get your clarification there if you’re not too busy to respond.
Again, great read that helps put all of the top shoes in recent memory into perspective. Thanks.
I think most ppl are failing to realize this list spans years not months. When you have to pick 25 pairs over 5 years, a lot of good shoes will be left out and the ones that are included are put up against the best of the best. To be one the list at all is good.
It was good to see the AJ 2011 at 21 and the AJ 2010 at 12. Tinker is still doing wonders for Jordan Brand.
nice listing!! but i’m a lil disappointing to find out that Nike Zoom Flight 98 wasn’t on the list. it was my best shoe till the heel zoom air popped. (it was my outdoor shoe for a year plus.)
rocking on Jrdn Fly Wade 2 now and they are awesome!
keep it up, Chris!!! =)
Thanks but the flight 98 was about 10 yrs off. This was a list on the top 25 within the last 5 yrs.
true… my bad.
haha! =)
Great read. Keep up the great work!
Loved playing on nike sharkleys and zoom soldier 3. Today Im playing in zoom soldier 6.
Nightwing I would like to ask you if you know if the nike air flight 1 has zoom air, or only air cushion.
Please answer whenever you have time, I would appreciate it a lot.
Thanks.
Typically Nike tells you the cushion source in the title of the shoe – not always but usually. Nike Zoom Flight 96 and Nike Air Flight One etc etc. The Foamposite and Air Jordan signature line is one where they did not use this theory. The Air Penny line usually had Air Max Penny 1, 2, & 4 etc bc they utilized Air Max units at the heel but they had combo cushion with Zoom as well which was labeled on the shoe itself.
Ok thanks bro.
Great list nightwing, I agree with you on the rose 1.5 it is one of the best sneakers out there and it’s the one that got me addicted to the Rose line. I’m surprised you didn’t choose the adipower howard 2 for the list
welll i’m glad to see the huarache 08’s made it on the list although th09’s were far sicker and the rache 10’s were beastly
I do miss Puremotion, i wonder why Adidas stopped making them. This is a great list and a good gauge for those looking at performance shoes. The Li-Ning Turningpoint is sick, glad it made the top 10. Surprised that the new CP3’s didn’t make it but have a good idea why. Im a traction/cushion guy myself, and i do agree with your #1 pick. You can still get Kobe IV’s on ebay for those looking to get them.
Too expensive 🙁
I gotta be honest with you, I hated the Sharkalaid. It was bulky, a lot of slippage and the midsole was crazy stiff.
Im just assuming you are a Guard, these arent Guard shoes so the flex would bother most of us. Big guys like them though. Barkley/ Rodman sized F & PF are what these were made for.
The TS Supernatural Commander should be marketed as support of a high and freedom of a low in my opinion, not the Charge BB. Great to see the Rose 1.5 right ahead of the 3, just got the 3 yesterday and they are so similar to the 1.5.
/Picture of the Kobe VI is a fake 🙂
Thank you!!! The commander is basically the rose 1.0 with a higher cut and midfoot straps.
3 is great w cushion compared to the 1.5 but everything else goes to the 1.5 imo. Looks dont but this isnt about looks.
I didnt choose the pic, i wrote the article and made the list.
The Kobe iv’s were my first sig shoes ever. Now kinda regret not grabbing another pair and also went one full size up than what I wear now bcus i didnt know these stuff (fit, lockdown, etc) back them. Damn
Some of the choices seem to have been made more on the basis of “innovative features” than on which are the actual best performing kicks (or “the best basketball shoes that have released within the last 5 years”). For example, in the review for AJ 2012, NW says that they blow the AJ 2011 out of the water, yet in the top 25 shoes list, the AJ 2011 has been included, while AJ 2012 is not. Though I guess maybe it was important to represent all 5 years equally, and 2012 just ended up being more competitive than 2011 in terms of kicks. Either way, great list, some fond memories on there for sure.
Actually, they are the best performance shoes within the last 5 years and they happen to feature innovative features. I didnt actually choose the 2011, I thought those under performed, I had picked the AJ2009 but someone replaced it without telling me. The AJ2012 is a very good hoop shoe, but they arent the best of 2012. I chose 5 or so – give or take – from each yr and the 2012s dont fit in. They probably wont make it into my personal top picks at the end of the year either. Doesnt mean they are bad… just that I prefer another shoe over them.
All good fam, AJ 2012 wouldn’t have made my list either. As for the 2011, I’m glad they continued (and improved on) the replaceable insoles, but the only other thing I miss from those is that supernice leather…hope they bring that back too, its artificial materials overload atm.
I feel ya there. That leather was AWESOME!
Also, I don’t know if you’ll see this but…I need some advice NW (or whoever sees this, if you have worn the shoe), its about the Melo M8. I wasn’t gonna get them at first, but I destroyed a few of my other kicks recently so Ima update the collection with a fresh pair. Anyway, I hate most of the M8’s CWs on offer, and want to get the black&midnight blue CW that has nubuck instead of the patent leather in the lower part of the upper section. My question is – do you think having nubuck instead of patent leather will make them too flexible or unsupportive? It seems like the nubuck in that section is just an overlay on top of the flywire, but still…thoughts?
Are you putting rose 1 and 1.5 as the same shoe?
Hi Nightwing,
In your review of AJ 2012, you said that it has a huge improvement from AJ 2011. Wonder why it is not in the list at all?
I didnt choose the 2011, someone replaced my choice of the AJ2009 with those. The 2012 werent on the list bc I tried to choose 5 pairs from each yr since 2008.
Why isin’t the Zoom Soldier 6 in the list? I though those were the best in zoom soldier line than the 3’s! Any details besides on being a little similar to the Air Jordan XI?
3s are better.
Great list ! I rummaged through my closet and started wearing the soldier iii and wow they blow away most of the newer shoes . Newer definitely doesn’t mean better since I still put the og aj xiv as my goto shoe ( retros not so much )
the new kd is out but only nike id
where do you get your shoes
Hi Nightwing!
I like rose 1.5 a lot and was thinking on trying adidas top ten 2000 too. How would you compare adidas PureMotion and feet your wear technologies?
Also, have you tried rose 1.5 low? Looks interesting, just hope they didn’t mess the heel lockdown with lowering the cut 🙁
You are doing great work!
BR