The 5 Best Basketball Shoes in 2022 – GuardMyShoes

Are you looking for a perfect basketball shoe that offers you alluring style and soothing comfort? Your basketball shoes don’t provide you the perfect bounce for a dunk? If you want to jump off without thinking about getting your foot sprained, you are at the right place. Here we have a list of one of the top basketball footwear for 2022.

In basketball, shoes are the only contact the players have with the court. These shoes play a pivotal role in boosting their performance. Injuries are common in basketball as players are continuously jumping and dodging on the glossy basketball court, which increases the chances of slipping and sprains. But you don’t have to worry. There are plenty of fabulous shoes out there that will not only ensure your style but will also minimize these injury risks.

There are numerous brands out in the market. Some of the renowned brands are Nike, Adidas, Puma Jordans, and Converse. These brands and many others offer high-performance footwear for basketball, providing you the required stability, comfort, explosiveness, support, and safety. The NBA 2021-2022 season has already started with 82 game schedule, which is overkill for the players as they will have to play three games each week. So you will need to have a shoe with better support and a responsive sole to provide you the leg power while lifting.

Best Basketball Shoes of 2022

1. Nike Kyrie 7 – Best Basketball Shoes

In collaboration with Kyrie Irving, Nike has introduced the seventh generation of their shoes, Nike Kyrie 7. These shoes are all-rounder as they offer good traction, are light in weight, flexible, and have a broad base. These shoes come in eye-catching colors and have astounding detailings on them.

The upper body is made of thin, mesh textile, making these shoes waterproof and allowing easy airflow through them. The upper has a fabulous textured design with many detailings. There is the Kyrie Irving logo on the tongue. Nike logo is present on the side. There is also the Kyrie Irving logo on the heel counter. There is thin padding in the tongue and ankle area, making it super comfortable.

Laces go through fingers made up of TPU plastic under which eyelets are present, so when you tie up your laces, you get a snugged fit as the fins pull against your forefoot. A TPU heel counter is current, which supports your ankle, making it easier to move. An Air Zoom Unit is currently in the forefoot area, which increases flexibility, responsiveness, and protection. In addition, the zoom air unit reduces discomfort while landing by providing extra cushioning.

They have a thin cushioned midsole which provides responsive padding giving that propulsion necessary for takeoff while jumping. The outsole is made up of hard rubber with a computer-generated pattern. The hard outsole is extended upwards towards the upper body, giving you 360-degree traction so you can easily change your positions. There is no hard plastic mid-plate making it super flexible.

These shoes are not as curvy as the Kyrie 6. The heel-to-toe transition is smooth. These are curved at the toe, giving you a rocking motion. These shoes are very light in weight as it has thin upper mesh and thin midsole and an Air Zoom unit, which prevents overheating and promotes stability.

Nikes Kyrie 7 is super light, breathable shoes providing excellent flexibility, grip, and cushioning. All these features make it easy for you to change positions while dodging. The midsole is responsive and gives back all the energy you exert on it so you can save this energy during the long games.

2. HARDEN VOL. 5 FUTURENATURAL SHOES – Top Basketball Shoes

Adidas, in collaboration with James Harden, brings for you their fifth generation of shoes. The duo has introduced a new footwear technology called futurenatural. Futurenatural focuses on freedom of mobility by providing a perfect fit for your foot. The company has scanned thousands of feet of basketball players to understand the complicated and unique design of their feet. They are making it super easy for you to change positions.

These shoes have a synthetic textile upper, making them more lasting, light-weighted, crease-resistant, and waterproof. Polkadot design is the unique feature of Harden Vol.5 Futurenatural shoes. There is a mesh window at the rear side and below the tongue, making them more breathable. There is James harden signature on the tongue.

These shoes have lace closure. There is padding inside the ankle area which gives this shoe extra cushioning and comfort. These pads have a unique feature: they make your foot slide when you wear them, but they give resistance when you try to move your foot upward, which provides you with more control and fit.

One of the most amazing things about Harden 5 is that it features the combination of two unique technologies; Boost and Lightstrike. Boost insoles provide amazing comfort, and the lightstrike midsole provides cushioning and a spring-like effect. The outsole is made up of rubber having traction patterns which makes it super slip-resistant. Harden 5 is available in five colors Black, White, Navy blue, Red, and Crew Blue.

With such a fantastic polka dot design, the combination of the world’s leading sole technologies, it is the best pick for 2022’s basketball season. The integrated internal cushioning pads make these shoes incredibly comfortable. You can use these shoes on outdoor courts without worrying about damaging the outsole.

3. Nike Men’s Shoes Zoom Freak 2 – Best Men’s Basketball Shoes

Nike Zoom Freak 2 is Giannis Antetokounpo’s second signature shoe. These are low-top basketball shoes with Zoom air technology and foam midsole. Zoom freak 2 is available in a wide variety of colors. There are 14 colorways among which you can choose.

The upper is made up of a mixture of sports neoprene and mesh material, making it soft, elastic, comfortable, and waterproof. The upper is thin and light in weight. There is a Nike logo made up of leather material on the side. A rubberized plastic plate on the lateral side in the forefoot and midfoot, which locks movement.

There is a foam midsole in these shoes. There is a single zoom midsole foam. The outsole is made up of hard rubber, having quite a different traction pattern. The forefoot has a circular ripple-like pattern, which turns into small nubs in the heels. There is Giannis’ brother’s name on the heel. This translucent outsole provides incredible grip and good performance inside the court.

The heel-to-toe transition is good, providing good flex and rocking movement. These shoes have good durability as the rubber outsole is thick and has nubs even on the upper sides of the sole. They have a padded and large tongue in addition to padding in the ankle area.

If you are a fan of strong shoes, Nike’s Zoom Freak 2 is best for you. These shoes have a solid and stable outsole providing you with fantastic traction and lateral control. These are low to ground and lightweight, so you don’t have to think about your shoes while playing; just focus on the game.

4. Adidas Men’s N3xt L3v3l Basketball Shoe – Most Comfortable Basketball Shoes

Adidas men’s N3xt L3v3L baseball shoes are one of the most futuristic shoes introduced by Adidas. These shoes are laceless basketball performance shoes. They have a pretty different design language with a sleek silhouette. They have top arch support, so the pressure exerted on the soul could be reduced by distributing it. This helps in reducing the stress on your foot.

N3xt L3v3L has an upper made up of complete primeknit synthetic material, which gives it fuse-like texture and water resistance. The pattern on the shoe changes depending on the function of the area. The toe has got U shaped embroidery for extra durability. Primeknit upper is stiffer as compared to normal primeknit, not giving it much of a structure. There is a dot-like pattern on the upper, giving it some color contrast.

There is a black, rectangular, leather pull tab attached to the tongue. On the lateral sides of the midfoot, you have got a foam, and this outline acts as mid-cage providing midfoot support. The ankle area is tiny and tight so that it fits perfectly and provides support. So the laceless shoe cannot slip out while playing. There is a white pull tab on the rear side of the heel, making it easier to wear.

The outsole reaches up to the upper body of the shoes. The midsole is comfortable but not too bouncy. The sole of the shoes doesn’t bounce but does compress a bit. These are available in four different colors: Off white, black, yellow, and cream white.

Due to its exceptional design and laceless feature, it is one of a kind. If you want to have a unique kind of shoe n3xt L3v3L will be the perfect find. These shoes are amazing for people who find it hard to tie laces.

5. Nike Men’s Air Zoom BB NXT Basketball – Popular Basketball Shoes

Nike’s Zoom BB NXT basketball shoes are pretty fresh-looking shoes with fantastic traction and stability. These shoes have Nike’s best foam technology. They have Nike’s triple React foam which is one of the most flexible foam by Nike. They provide you with the explosiveness for good jumps during the game. They are available in nine different colorways, including white, red, white & royal black, black, and many more.

The upper of the shoes are made up of knitted mesh material. It seems like a fused material. The overall feel of the upper is soft and thinner. The knit-mesh material is premium-looking. The upper has a texture resembling a reptile’s skin. There are dots like structures in addition to it. These dots seem to fuse around the toe area to provide extra support their whereas there are larger dots around the forefoot and heel area, so it is more challenging, making it more durable.

There is an additional tongue, so it is easy for you to wear. There is a Nike logo on the tongue and at the side of the shoe. There is no heel tab. There is pillow padding present in the ankle area for better comfort. An internal heel counter is present to keep your ankle in position and give some support. There is a three-layer cushioning system called Nike react foam. The midsole has two layers of reacting foam, whereas the insole has the third layer of reacting foam, making the shoes super comfy.

There are two Zoom pods present around the forefoot giving it the additional bounce. These features make these shoes very reactive, and it returns most of the energy exerted. The impact protection of these shoes is adequate due to zoom air pods. You can feel the bounce without even exerting any pressure at all.

These are very good in terms of traction. The outsole is made up of TPU rubber, having a circular and wavy pattern, giving it some extra traction. There is a groove in the forefoot area to unlock the zoom units in the forefoot and increase the flex in the forefoot area. The outsole is deep, solid, and thick, which makes it quite suitable for outdoor courts.

Nike Men’s Air Zoom BB NXT basketball shoe is a next-level shoe as it has a great cushioning system, extraordinary traction, excellent design, and good quality material. These shoes can be a total steal for you. The help in you the best projection for a jump and return response phenomenon helps you conserve your energy for long games.

Buyer’s Guide

In basketball, one of the most important factors other than your skill is the quality and performance of the footwear you use. Your shoes can drastically improve your performance, stamina, and even dodging abilities. Buying a perfect shoe is not easy there are many products out there, choosing one among them is not easy. There are many things you have to keep in mind while buying an ideal shoe.

Traction

Traction is one of the essential features to keep in mind while playing. If you have shoes with low traction, it will make you slip on the court and cause foot injuries. Traction gives you more control and grip so that you can confidently move and dodge easily.

Comfort

The second feature to keep in mind is comfort. An uncomfortable shoe will hinder your performance as you will not be able to focus on your game. It will reduce your performance instead of elevating it. A shoe is comfortable only if it has a proper insole and a good quality midsole providing appropriate cushioning. Padded tongue and padded pillow in the ankle area can increase the comfort level for the users. The quality of the product plays a vital role in making a shoe comfortable. Spending a few more dollars on the quality is not a bad deal.

Impact Support

One of the main reasons to use good quality shoes is to reduce the risk of injuries and sprains. It is only possible when the shoes are designed to reduce the pressure resulting from high jumps. If you like to score a dunk shot, you must go for high-end shoes to minimize the pressure exerted by the impact with the ground. The use of shock-absorbing materials can add to impact support.

Durability

The durability of a shoe mostly depends upon the quality of materials used in the outsole and upper of the shoes. The quality of the upper ensures that it is resistant to tear and wear. If poor or low-quality material is used, your shoes will soon wear out and will lose the initial look they had. If the outsole is not made up of good quality material, soon after a few months of use, its traction will reduce, and the poor grip will make you slip more often. Ultimately you have to change the shoe.

Sole Technology

The sole technology used can be a game-changer when it comes to sportswear. The insole and midsole make sure that the product is super comfortable and cushioning. In contrast, the outsole is designed to be more resistant and should provide more traction and control.

Design

A good classy, eye-catching, and remarkable design can be cherry on the top. Well, it is not something which you look at first in a shoe but is essential. In basketball, the fashion and style in terms of shoes are pretty valued. Each player makes sure to keep their fashion game-high.

Price

Your budget is undoubtedly one thing that you should keep in mind. There are many brands out there offering you a wide range of shoes. There are many high-performance shoes available at comparatively affordable prices. You can freely choose among them. When it comes to advanced technology and quality, you have to stretch your budget if you don’t want to compromise your performance.

You should keep all these features in mind while buying a basketball shoe because it is a serious matter in terms of performance. These will make your work a lot easier. So before selecting any shoes, first see whether it fulfills the criteria of a good shoe.

FAQs

Which basketball shoes make you jump the highest?

Nike Kyrie 7 is one of the best shoes for jumping as its thin sole provides you with the perfect bounce for a nice jump.

Which sole material is best for basketball shoes?

Soles made up of TPU rubber are among the best outsoles; they absorb shock and provide maximum traction for smooth movements.

What makes a shoe suitable for basketball?

The best basketball shoes are the ones that have an excellent robust outsole providing perfect grip, stability and minimizing injury risks by preventing slips.

Does the Kyrie 7 run small?

Nike’s Kyrie 7 is a high-performance shoe with lightweight, excellent traction, and stability. It can have more durability. The superb quality mesh upper can be pretty resistant to tear and wear. But it might not be suitable for outdoor use.

Is Harden Vol 5 true to size?

Yes, they are true to size, having a narrow fit. It depends upon the shape of your foot. If you have a wide foot, you can go for half a size larger.

What are zoom freaks?

Zoom freaks are Giannis antenotonpon’s signature shoes in collaboration with Nike. These have good impact support and stability.

Conclusion

Until now, I have compiled one of the top basketball shoes for 2022. These suggestions will not only make it a lot easier for you to choose but will also a lot of your time. Let’s cut down the things a little bit. Here I have the top three picks among which you can choose the most suitable one for you.

1. Nikes Kyrie 7 is super light, breathable, flexible shoes with fantastic traction and cushioning. These shoes help in mobility and stability. The midsole is responsive, giving back all the energy exerted, saving a lot of your energy during the long games.
2. Adidas N3xt L3v3L Basketball shoes, the laceless feature is one of its exceptional due to their innovative design. If you want to have a unique kind of shoe, n3xt L3v3L would be a steal. These shoes are amazing for people who find it hard to tie laces.
3. Nike Men’s Air Zoom BB NXT basketball is a next-level shoe with a great cushioning system, extraordinary traction, excellent design, and good quality material. It gives you the best projection for a jump, and the response return mechanism helps you save energy.

As the basketball season is ongoing, it is still not too late to upgrade your footwear with some of the best basketball shoes of 2022. Here I have some renowned products that have high-quality performance and will help in the long 82 game season. So what are you waiting for? Go and get one as soon a