The 10 Best adidas Basketball Shoes for On-Court Performance
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From Kareem to Dame and Ewing to Harden, the Three Stripes have long been a perennial form of footwear donned by some of the league’s most world-renowned talents — and some of the best adidas basketball shoes have been released in 2024.
It doesn’t matter if you are a professional or just someone who enjoys the look and feel of a good sneaker; adidas continues its tradition of churning out quality products that assure top-of-the-line results, from adidas walking shoes, adidas running shoes, to indoor and outdoor basketball shoes. While the sneaker authority still dominates the modern scene, the brand has arguably been at the peak of its powers since the late ’60s. Since then, adidas has put forth some of the best basketball sneakers to hit the hardwood for MVPs, gold medalists, and world champions, including Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, and, at an early point in his career, the late Kobe Bryant (in addition to the aforementioned household names).
To this day, adidas continues to innovate in the basketball department, implementing unique technology enjoyed by All-Stars and everyday court stars. Anthony Edward’s signature AE 1 basketball shoe is one of adidas’ most popular player shoes for 2024, along with the Harden Volume 8, courtesy of his Minnesota Timberwolves teammate James Harden — both of which received upgrades and limited-edition colorways in recent months. Additionally, adidas is riding the pulse of a fast-growing market for women’s basketball shoes, as seen in adidas Exhibit Select Mid Shoes, the brand’s first-ever model designed to accurately fit and support women’s feet.
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The brand’s rich history goes far beyond adidas Samba shoes and Stan Smiths shoes, as its timeline wouldn’t be nearly as impressive if not for its retro basketball designs, with each serving as a game-changing silhouette: the Supergrip, Pro Model, and, last but not least, the almighty adidas Superstar. Moreover, adidas has always aimed to provide comfort and protection in men’s and women’s basketball shoes, no matter how much you bring the rock up the floor or do your work in the post. Whether it’s heritage designs or modern signature styles like the adidas Dame 8, you can trust that adidas’ best basketball shoes are composed of the best materials and detailed craftsmanship.
So, if you’re looking to earn your stripes, you’ve come to the right place. Below, discover the best adidas women’s basketball shoes and adidas men’s basketball shoes of 2024.
Colorways: Blue and black, green and pink, and more
Weight: 7.5 ounces
Boasting a rich history that dates back to the 1980s, the adidas Forum shoes were first introduced as high-performance basketball sneakers, and even though they may not live up to contemporary footwear tech, they maintain that ethos. However, with their distinctive strap design and durable construction, they make for one of the best adidas basketball shoes for ankle support and traction on the hardwood — ideal for big players crashing in the paint for boards. Best of all, if you’re looking for something more stable, the taller Forum Low is as good as any of adidas’ high-top basketball shoes.
What testers say: “These are a classic style that goes with everything and holds up well. Super comfortable!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $80
Colorways: Red, gray, navy
Special features: Boost midsole, Lightstrike cushioning
What testers say: “Love these. It’s definitely shoe of the year. Not only a great hoop shoe but you can wear these casually as well!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $110
Colorways: Red, blue, white, black, and orange
Weight: 16.8oz
Special features: Dual-density Bounce Pro provides maximum energy return and support
What testers say: “So comfortable! I never feel like taking them off. I’m on my feet all day and these shoes have eliminated any and all soreness I’ve had while working in other shoes.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $85
Colorways: Yellow and black, green and black, orange and black, white and black, all-black
Weight: 15.91oz
Special features: Hybrid midsole featuring Boost and Lightstrike tech
What testers say: “Best basketball shoe of 2024! Comfortable, responsive, and not too bulky. I recommend it to all hoopers.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $160
Colorways: White, pink, blue, red, black
Special features: Lightstrike Pro foam for impact cushioning
The most distinctive element of this iteration is its low-top silhouette. “The technology, the way it’s been made, it’s just as secure as the high-tops were back in the day,” Mitchell told Footwear News. “The technology is different with the Lightstrike Pro, but having something lighter and futuristic was something I wanted to do… It’s just lighter — being able to move quicker and jump higher. You don’t feel like you have a shoe on your foot. I can just kind of go out there and just hoop without any thoughts.”
What testers say: “This shoe is crazy good for bounce! It is an all-around great shoe for comfort, court feel, and traction.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $120
Colorways: Red and white, black and white, gray and white, yellow and blue, black and white, and more
Special features: Bounce midsole
What testers say: “Super grippy, comfortable, and breathable shoe. Highly recommend.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $110
Colorways: Black and white, blue and white, red and white, burgundy, white and green, and more
Special features: Rubber cupsole
What testers say: “Probably my fav pair of kicks so far. Super comfy, super stylish, well designed.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $70
Colorways: White and red, lilac and navy, and more
Weight: 15 ounces
Special features: Composite Foam, Torsion System, engineered mesh uppers
What testers say: “This is the best TY shoe to date. Much more comfortable than the earlier models and the grip is great.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $98
Colorways: Blue and white, all-white, red and white
Special features: Lightstrike cushioning, thick rubber outsole
What testers say: “Probably my fav pair of kicks so far. Super comfy, super stylish, well designed.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $70
Colorways: White and black, orange, beige
Weight: 6 ounces
What testers say: “Such a classic. I grab a new pair every time I shop at adidas. Very comfortable!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $100
What to Consider When Shopping for the Best adidas Basketball Shoes
- High-top vs. low-top: It’s common knowledge that countless looks and colors, whether chunky outsoles or pastel shoes, dominate the shoe game. Still, the most essential difference to consider is the age-old debate of high-top or low-top. Simply put, this hinges on what others expect from you on the court; if the coach (or whoever you play with) needs you to peruse the paint for rebounds, stick with high tops to protect your ankles. On the contrary, point guards and primary ball handlers could benefit from lightweight, low-cut silhouettes for agility’s sake.
- Style of play: Are you a spot-up shooter or ball handler? If so, your best bet is to buy something lightweight with an excellent grip to zoom past screens and your opponent’s suffocating defense. On the other hand, a rim runner who can’t help but chase blocks and boards should find something with proper cushion, stability, and support. The last three factors matter for all play styles but prove more critical for some. Moreover, players who do it all on the floor, from guarding the other team’s best player to dribbling up the court, should buy something with premium cushioning to better the constant task of running from end to end.
- Indoor vs outdoor courts: Since indoor courts are smoother than asphalt, many signature shoes suited for the hardwood feature a suction-like grip in strategic zones that prevent slippage. This notion is similar to outdoor courts, which require ultra-grippy kicks to prevent you from losing stability on rugged terrain. Of course, dependable cushioning is critical across the board, but that applies doubly for people shooting around at their local park or in their driveway. To close, you should always account for longevity; buy something made of sturdier materials like polyester or natural rubber if you play outdoors.
How We Selected the Best adidas Basketball Shoes
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis, and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items.
To select the best adidas basketball shoes to rock on and off the court, we narrowed down all the vital properties to account for when buying any basketball shoe, such as durability, support, responsive cushioning, and overall performance technology. Then, we scoured the brand’s limitless portfolio — one chock full of unwavering silhouettes and high-performance signatures. In doing so, we placed a solid amount of stock into the Three Stripes’ latest tech and variations that have been proven successful. Our list of the best adidas basketball shoes also includes shoes featured in Footwear News’ Greatest Shoes of All Time list. The honor reflects the opinions of a diverse panel of editors and industry experts, plus data and metrics that measure the historical significance and current trend appeal of the sneakers. Lastly, for the human element, we took our own product testing and several customer reviews into account. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Author
Yoni Yardeni is a Los Angeles-based fashion, footwear, and culture journalist whose previous work has appeared in HiConsumption and HotNewHipHop. At the former, the long-time basketball fan composed several hands-on reviews on some of adidas’ best hiking boots and shoes.
