Are you looking for the perfect pair of shoes to up your game on the court? Do you want to purchase sneakers that can keep up with the position you primarily play? If so, then you need to learn all that you can about how to choose the best basketball shoes.
Shoes are a basketball player’s best friend. While they’re the only piece of equipment that a hoop star has, they should be chosen with a sharp eye and thorough consideration.
See below for an in-depth guide on how to choose the best basketball shoes for your needs and achieve a comfortable fit.
Table of Contents
1. Consider Your Position
While it may have never occurred to you, shopping around for new basketball shoes should be primarily based on the position that you play.
It makes sense when you think about it; guards play a different style of basketball than a center, and therefore would need different shoes to accommodate. It’s very similar to how football cleats differ for O-linemen, quarterbacks, and skill position players.
But what type of basketballs should you buy for each position? What qualities make a sneaker better for centers, guards, forwards, etc.
For guards, you’ll want to focus on finding as to the light of a shoe as possible. Point guards and shooting guards are the best ball-handlers on the floor, making quick cuts and flying down the court in transition. You might even consider low-top shoes, such as these Nike all court lows that are available.
Small forwards are typically the swiss army knife of the team. They’re great defenders, have excellent ball-handling skills, and typically a scoring touch as well. Small forwards are a lot more physical than guards, so you’ll want high-top shoes for the ankle support. That said, opt for a light shoe that can change positions with you.
Power forwards and centers are quite interchangeable in today’s game. Both positions prioritize rebounding on both sides of the ball and beating the opposition to put missed shots back up on the glass. Invest in some high-quality high-top shoes to reinforce your foot and protect your ankles.
2. Learn About the Different Options
The basketball shoe market is more explosive than ever before. Only a decade ago, Nike essentially had a monopoly on the industry.
That isn’t the case anymore! The basketball shoe industry is now diversified by many different superstars who have shoes with brands such as Nike, Adidas, Under Armor, New Balance, Jordan, Puma, ANTA, and more!
If you’re partial to the swoosh or some other brand, then by all means stay loyal. We’re just here to encourage you to broaden your horizons. Do some research on the different models out there. See what basketball shoes your favorite NBA player at your position wears; this is a great resource for finding a shoe that fits your style of play.
There are many different blogs that you can follow to learn about the best shoes in the game. That said, here’s a list of a few different ones to get you started:
- Puma Clyde All-Pro
- UA Embiid 1
- Air Jordan XXXVI
- Nike KD 14
- Adidas Dame 7
- New Balance TWO WXY
3. Look for Performance
Of course, name recognition and aesthetics won’t do you any good if the shoes can’t keep up with how you play. They need to perform well on the court.
There are three things you should look for in the shoes you purchase: support, comfort, and traction.
Support will ensure that your shoes can absorb the shock when your foot makes contact with the ground (such as when you jump for a rebound). Comfort, as the name would imply, can keep your foot feeling good as the game goes on. That’s why it’s important to try on shoes you buy in-store or find online stores with a strong return policy.
Lastly, the traction of the shoe will help you keep your grip on the floor. The last thing you need is to slip while trying to beat the buzzer on a game-winning layup.
4. Browse Consumer Reviews
So many people want to become the first ones to get their hands on the latest basketball shoe models, but there’s merit to waiting a few weeks as well.
Only a few days after the release, the reviews will start pouring in. You can use those reviews to see if customers encourage or discourage the shoe models you have your eyes on.
Generally speaking, you can entrust most major brands with the shoes they launch. That said, there’s always the occasional bad rep, like when Zion Williamson ripped his shoe in college.
5. Buy the Right Shoe Size
If you’re buying basketball shoes to play in, then getting the right size is vitally important. Have your foot measured to find what shoe size you should actually be wearing.
Stay diligent with this. If a shoe model isn’t available in your size, don’t buy it. Don’t purchase the next size up just because you’re tantalized by its looks.
The right shoe size is crucial for all major movements in basketball, such as running, cutting, jumping, and pivoting. You need your shoes to keep up.
Buy the Best Basketball Shoes on the Market Today
Now that you have seen an in-depth guide on how to choose the best basketball shoes for your needs, be sure to use this information wisely.
Take the time to browse our website for more articles on new basketball shoes, as well as many other topics that you will find interesting.
