Top Ten Best NBA Basketball Shoes 2016

With the 2016-2017 NBA preseason currently underway and the regular season starting in just two weeks, the phrase “ball is life” couldn’t be more true right now for basketball fans. This season will surely be interesting; LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers look to carry their momentum from last season, while the Golden State Warriors take in fellow 3-1 lead blower Kevin Durant to form a powerhouse team in the West.

Aside from the exciting games of basketball to be played, shoes are also an important element of the NBA. What athletes wear on the court is often regarded as the best of the best in performance basketball shoes and in a market full of competition, it plays a huge part in fans’ reception when it comes to retail sales. With options from Nike Basketball, ***, Adidas, and Under Armour picking the right pair can be daunting.

Whether you’re trying to channel your favorite player through yourself on the court or simply buying a new pair of kicks for some pickup games, we’ve got you covered. To make it easier, here are The 10 Best Basketball shoes Out Right Now listed from lowest to highest in price.

NO.10 Nike Kyrie 2  Price: $120
As a 2016 NBA Champion and a Gold Medal Olympian, Kyrie Irving has put in a ton of work on the court while wearing his second signature sneaker. Using a combination of mesh, Hyperfuse and an innovative mid-foot strap, the Nike Kyrie 2 is lightweight, but sturdy — ideal for players quick on their feet. And at $120, it makes for a great bang-for-your-buck basketball sneaker.

NO.9 Adidas Crazlight Boost 2016 Price: $130
Last year, when James Harden dropped Nike to sign a $200 million deal with Adidas, it was big news. While Harden took on wearing the 2015 version for the time being, the Adidas Crazylight Boost Low 2016 was designed specifically for him as his signature sneaker. The sneaker’s name explains what they are: a super lightweight low-top basketball sneaker with a full-length Boost midsole, which lends well to ballers with a fast-paced attacking style of play.

NO.8 Under Armour Curry 2.5 Price: $135
Stephen Curry was unquestionably the hottest player in the NBA this year, and his performance has definitely had a positive effect on Under Armour’s sneaker sales. Coming off a 2015 NBA Championship and a record-breaking 73-9 regular season, Curry debuted the Under Armour Curry 2.5 during the Playoffs. While it wasn’t a full leap ahead of the Curry Two, the 2.5 features an asymmetrical lacing system and a burrito tongue for better ankle support and stability. Curry not taking home the 2016 NBA Championship doesn’t take away from the performance these shoes offer.

NO.7 Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier 10 Price: $140
In comparison to LeBron James’ signature shoes, the Nike LeBron Soldier line is often overlooked, but not this year. In many ways, the Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier 10 has outperformed the Nike LeBron 13 (which did not make the list in-part to its extremely high price point.) James alternated between the two silhouettes during the 2016 NBA Playoffs, but it was Soldier 10 that got the Championship option on NIKEiD. With colorways like the “Dunkman” already out and the “Christ the King” releasing this weekend, Nike has been showing the the Soldier 10 a lot of love that usually reserved for the signature models. At $130 or $140 depending on the model, you can’t complain.

NO.6  Nike LeBron 13 Low Price: $150
Low-top LeBrons are generally regarded as strictly lifestyle shoes, but the LeBron 13 Low is an exception. Just as the Nike Zoom LeBron Soldier 10 fills the void for an affordable high-top LeBron sneaker, the 13 Low also makes for a less-expensive option for those comfortable in a low-top. Feature a Zoom Air unit in the forefoot, a 180 Air Max unit in the heel, and a Flywire lacing system makes these shoes far from being just for looks. The LeBron 13 retails for $245 on NIKEiD, so the nearly $100 price difference is a big deal.

NO.5 Nike Zoom KD 9 Price: $150
Kevin Durant and designer Leo Chang have come along way in the Nike KD lineage. Durant’s signature shoe started out as an affordable basketball sneaker—and remained that way for some time— because Durant couldn’t afford ***s as a kid. He wanted kids who look up to him to have an option under $100 in a market where ***s, LeBrons, and Kobes can sell for over $200. Even when the KD 5 broke the $100 price point at $115, they still remained very affordable. It was when the KD 8 hit $200, Durant made it a point to try to return to his roots. The Nike Zoom KD 9 retails for $150 and features a full-length Zoom Air unit and Flyknit on the upper. Expect to see some blue and gold colorways in the future now that Durant has teamed up with the Golden State Warriors.

NO.4 Adidas Crazy Explosive Primeknit Price: $150
The Adidas Crazy Explosive Primeknit is exactly what the Three Stripes was missing in its basketball division. In the past, the Future Boost was the closest thing to a big man’s sneaker from Adidas, but now the Crazy Explosive fills the void. If the Crazylight Boost 2016 is for lightweight and speedy players, the Crazy Explosive is for —you guessed it— bigger, more explosive players. With a full-length Boost midsole, the Crazy Explosive features more Boost technology than any other Adidas basketball sneaker. You can expect to see players like Nick Young, Andrew Wiggins, and Iman Shumpert rocking these on the court this season.

NO. 3 *** XXX1 Price: $185
The *** XXX1 might be the best recent *** since the XX3, making it special for more than one reason. Aside from being the premier basketball sneaker form the *** line up, the XXX1 does something that no other *** has does as successfully — it takes modern technology and and blends it with classic styling cues that made *** the brand it is today. In addition to featuring the *** Wings logo and faint Nike Swooshes on the sneaker, each colorway released thus far connects to the history Michael Jordan made 31 years ago. The “Fine Print” colorway celebrates Michael Jordan inking a deal with Nike, the “Banned” colorway pays homage to Jordan’s banned black and red shoes, and the “Shattered Backboard” remembers Jordan’s monster dunk at a Nike Exhibition game in Italy.

NO.2 Nike Hyperdunk 2016 Flyknit Price: $200
The Nike Hyperdunk is usually a standard high-top sneaker with Flywire and Zoom Air technology and has always been a solid choice for basketball. This year, the Hyperdunk offers an added level of performance with Flyknit. The Nike Hyperdunk 2016 Flyknit features an entire Flyknit upper and sock-like fit on the ankles. Even though it material is present for obvious benefits in breathability, stretch and support, you can’t help but notice how much better they look compared to the standard Nike Hyperdunk 2016.

NO.1 Nike Kobe XI Elite Price: $200
Kobe Bryant’s signature shoes have been innovating the concept of low-top performance basketball shoes for years. Earlier this year, Bryant made his farewell from NBA by dropping 60 points during his last game in the Nike Kobe XI, but just because he’s done playing doesn’t mean his shoes will stop. The Nike Kobe XI Elite adds on to the legendary performance found in the XI with a Flyknit yarn upper and full-length Lunarlon insole. If you’re looking for full range of motion, comfort and stability, you can’t go wrong with the Nike Kobe XI Elite.