The Best Entry Level Sneakers for Basketball
If you’re just getting into basketball and looking for a good pair of sneakers, it can be a bit overwhelming with the many brands and countless models available out there. And what makes a $180 shoe better than a $90 shoe? In most cases, not much. You don’t need to be wearing the pricey flagship signature models from the biggest stars in the game to find a shoe that performs perfectly and looks stylish.
In other words, you can buy the most expensive basketball shoes, and you’ll probably love them, but you don’t need to, especially if you’re just getting into the game. If you want a high-performance hoops shoe at an affordable price, the following are five of the best options on the market for $110 or less. And don’t let the lower prices fool you. Whether you’re just stepping on the court for the first time or you’re a veteran baller throwing no-look passes and crossing people over, these five sneakers are among the top performers in the game.
Nike Air Max Impact 4: $95
The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is the fourth iteration of this budget friendly hoops shoe with great performance and clean looks to match. The best way to describe the feel of this shoe in one word is: plush. The Air Max Impact 4 features Air Max cushioning in the heel with soft and supportive foam for the rest of the midsole, which includes sculpted foam pieces that extend up each side of the heel for extra stability. The lightweight and breathable mesh upper is fortified with plenty of padding in the tongue and around the heel.
The Air Max Impact 4 is also a formidable outdoor hoops shoe thanks to the rubber outriggers that reach up the midfoot on both sides, which not only provide extra lateral support, but also add asphalt armour in high-wear areas. The toe of the mesh upper is also layered with a thin synthetic ‘skin’ to increase durability. As for traction, the shoe utilises a tried-and-true herringbone pattern on the rubber outsole with diamond-shaped cutouts that expose the foam midsole underneath to reduce weight.
PUMA Scoot Zero: $100
The first signature shoe of Portland Trail Blazers youngin’ Scoot Henderson, the PUMA Scoot Zero is a bold looking, great performing hoops shoe that won’t hurt your wallet with its $100 price tag. The mid-top Scoot Zero is full of PUMA’s best basketball tech. For cushioning, the shoe utilises light, soft, and springy PROFOAM EVA for the midsole that softens your landing and propels your next step, and also provides stability and great court feel. The upper is built in a lightweight and breathable textile with synthetic overlays for durability and support. The inner lining works with the mesh and synthetic upper to conform nicely to the wearer’s foot with virtually no break-in time needed. As for traction, the Scoot Zero also has you covered with a multi-pattern tread, predominantly in an aggressive herringbone design with a radial pattern for the pivot point at the ball of the foot.
Overall, the Scoot Zero is a no-nonsense hoops shoe – unless you’re talking about its bold, aggressive look – that performs well for indoor or outdoor play
Nike LeBron Witness 8: $110
The Nike LeBron Witness 8 is just over $100, but it’s worth it if you have a few extra bucks to spend. The Witness line is LeBron James’s takedown for his annual flagship model. This eighth iteration of the shoe packs in plenty of tech and comfort for anybody hitting the court. The Witness 8 features a breathable mesh upper overlaid with lightweight plastic webbing that adds support and structure to the upper. The mesh and webbing is absent from the midfoot area in favour of a quilted textile (that also covers the tongue) for added flexibility.
A secure fit is another selling point of the Witness 8, as it features plush foam lining that conforms to the wearer’s foot for snug support. Below the upper sits a low-profile Phylon foam midsole with a large Air Max unit in the heel that work together to provide a stable feel with dynamic cushioning. Multiple traction patterns on the durable rubber outsole ensure ample grip on the court, both indoor or out.
adidas Dame Certified 2: $90
The adidas Dame Certified 2 is the sequel to the first ‘Certified’ budget model from Damian Lillard’s signature line. The Certified 1 was known as one of the best entry level hoops shoes on the market, and the Certified 2 improves on the 1 and it’s even $5 less. The Certified 2 features an ample amount of synthetic leather on the upper in key areas like the toe box and heel counter to add structure and support. The synthetic leather is paired with plenty of mesh around the midfoot, V-shaped lacing system, and heel to provide an excellent balance of support and breathability. The midsole is composed of full-length Bounce foam cushioning, one of adidas’ proprietary foams known for its lightweight and responsive feel. The sole design also features a wide base for great support for lateral movements, and the sticky rubber outsole with a wavy herringbone pattern allows the wearer to stop on a dime.
The Dame Certified 2 is easily one of the best entry level basketball shoes on the market, heralded by reviewers for its simple yet high-performance design. Lillard himself wore the Dame Certified 2 for many games in the 2023-24 NBA season in favour of his flagship model, which should tell you everything you need to know about how well it performs.
Nike GT Cut Academy: $95
Designed as the takedown of the GT Cut 3, the GT Cut Academy is still a great performance model at literally half the price of Nike’s flagship guard-style basketball shoe. This no-frills sneaker features a low-top silhouette reminiscent of Kobe Bryant’s popular signature models, with an all-synthetic upper predominantly built in lightweight and breathable mesh. The GT Cut Academy utilises a dual-density foam midsole with a Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for soft, springy, and dynamic cushioning. The traction is a standout aspect of the GT Cut Academy 3, as it features a sticky rubber outsole with a classic herringbone pattern that provides ample grip no matter what surface you’re playing on.
You truly get no bells and whistles with this model, but it certainly will get the job done on court, especially if you’re a quick guard who needs a shoe to grip the court well. Nike describe the GT Cut Academy as a shoe ‘designed to help you create space for stepback jumpers, backdoor cuts, and other game-changing plays’.