Serious Player Only is one of the youngest basketball shoe brands on the market, but, during its relatively short lifespan, it has produced some top-notch performance basketball shoes. Serious Player Only claims that it is the “the first performance basketball brand made by players for players” and that its team members “create collectively, continuously in real-time based on consumer feedback”, and, up to this point, the SPO team has lived up to this statement.
Serious Player Only’s first-ever basketball shoe, the Kobe-inspired Player 1, was a solid performance model right out of the gate. However, after receiving consumer and tester feedback, the design team went back to the drawing board and came back with the improved Player 1 Plus.
Serious Player Only (SPO) is also the only brand out there that exclusively uses drop-in midsoles in its shoes. Serious Player Only’s sneakers are designed in such a way that, no matter what SPO drop-in midsole you have, it will fit in any one of the brand’s shoes. This allows a level of customization in your basketball shoes that no other sneaker brand currently provides.
All this to say that Serious Player Only is one of the most interesting and exciting basketball shoe brands out there.
Now, as the brand is evolving and creating more brand-new unique designs, it begs the question, which is the best pair of Serious Player Only Basketball Shoes? Let’s find out.
Last updated 10.09.2024
Best Serious Player Only Basketball Shoes (and Midsoles) Show
Best Serious Player Only Basketball Shoes Overall
For more options, you can also check out our list of the best basketball shoes overall.
Best Serious Player Only Basketball Shoe
Serious Player Only Player 1 Plus
The Player 1 was already a great hoop shoe and the Player 1 Plus takes things to another level. Everything has been refined and improved slightly in this version of the shoe: more versatile traction, better materials, and better fit. It’s just a better performance basketball shoe.
The biggest drawback of the Player 1 Plus is the price. $180 is, admittedly, steep. But you’re getting a ton of bang for your buck and really excellent traction. Read full review. Price: $180
Serious Player Only Game 1
The Game 1 is another solid hoop shoe from Serious Player Only and it does exactly what the brand wanted it to do: be more versatile than the Player 1. The Player 1 and the Player 1 Plus are great guard-orientated basketball shoes. The Game 1 on the other hand is a basketball shoe that more playing styles and body types will enjoy on court.
The more robust support features, the added cushioning, the updated fit, and improved lacing system make the Game 1 a shoe more types of players will enjoy. On top of that, they’re less expensive than the Player 1 and can be equipped with any of the drop-in midsoles SPO has to offer. Read full review. Price: $138
Serious Player Only Ranger 1
The SPO Ranger 1 is a very versatile shoe, which theoretically is intended for both on-court performance and off-court fashion, bridging the gap between athletic and lifestyle footwear. It packs substantial cushioning, durable traction, and beefy support features. The use of premium materials and the ability to customize the midsole add to its versatility and all-around appeal. The Ranger 1 excels in terms of traction and cushioning alongside a unique and supportive design with top-notch materials. Read full review. Price: $190
Serious Player Only Player 1
This hoop shoe features some of the best traction we have seen in 2023/24. The Player 1 is equipped with a solid rubber outsole and full-length herringbone traction. The rubber is tremendously grippy but soft. And that is the one drawback: these are exclusively an indoor shoe. But indoors this is one of the best traction setups out there. Read full review. Price: $180
Best Serious Player Only Basketball Shoes For Traction
Serious Player Only Player 1 Plus
The Player 1 Plus is our top pick in terms of traction because, not only does this shoe grip the court like crazy, but the Plus version of the shoe can also handle outdoor play with zero issues. Elite, versatile, and durable traction… it doesn’t get much better than that. Read full review. Price: $180
Best Serious Player Only Basketball Shoes for Outdoors
Serious Player Only Game 1
The Game 1 is our top pick for outdoor use because, although the Player 1 Plus can handle use on outdoor courts with no issues, the Game 1 is slightly better equipped to handle the blacktop. The more robust support features, the added cushioning, and the more durable materials make it the best shoe in SPO’s arsenal for outdoor use. Read full review. Price: $138
Best Serious Player Only Basketball Shoes for Support 2024
Serious Player Only Game 1 MID
The Serious Player Only Game 1 has two versions: a “normal” version and a mid version. They are very similar but there are several differences worth mentioning. First off, in the mid version, the heel counter is internal and not external.
The mid version is also a higher cut on the medial side of the shoe, and there are several extra Fuse portions on the lateral side of the shoe. If you want a little extra support and containment, you may prefer the mid version. Read full review. Price: $138
Best Serious Player Only Midsoles 2024
All of Serious Player Only’s shoes feature drop-in midsole cushioning setups. The Player 1 and the Player 1 Plus feature a triple-density foam setup that combines an Evanlon foam carrier, which is a basic EVA foam similar to Lunarlon, with forefoot and heel units of Serious Player Only’s Pocon and Gum foams. This is the “Strong” drop-in. The Player 1 Plus comes with the same midsole, but it also comes with an additional midsole as well.
The second “Quick” midsole is constructed with just Evanlon and is an even more low profile and reactive setup. It is also the only midsole that comes with the Game 1. The Game 1 also has a thin traditional EVA midsole integrated into the “shell” of the shoe for added cushioning and comfort.
Aside from these two cushioning setups that come with Serious Player Only’s shoes, there are also 2 more dop-ins that are available to purchase. Both are completely interchangeable with all of the brand’s basketball shoes:
SPO Explosive Drop-in Midsole
The SPO “Explosive” midsole is built with a very lightweight and bouncy proprietary version of Supercritical Foam and offers the highest level of impact protection of all of the midsoles that SPO has to offer. It also features a sticky sock liner so your foot stays put as you play, which is a nice added feature. Price: $44
SPO Support Drop-In Midsole
The SPO “Support” Midsole is slightly more plush than the stock midsoles that come in any of SPO’s hoops shoes and is equipped with added support features for additional torsional rigidity and extra snap underfoot. Price: $44
How would you numerically rate the Strong and Quick midsoles for comparison purposes?
They depend on use case and player…one’s not better than the other.