The 10 Best Basketball Shoes of All Time Ranked

No piece of equipment in all sports has had as much of an impact on culture, both in and outside of sports, as basketball sneakers. Basketball shoes are one of the coolest pieces of sports gear and their appeal has spread around the world. Basketball sneakers are not only a staple of the sport, but off the court, they have become one of the largest collectibles in the world. Many consider basketball shoes to be the most important part of the fashion game. The shoe industry is huge and thousands of different shoes and colors have been released over the years. Some are better than others, though. Therefore, we decided to rank the 10 best basketball shoes of all time. This list was hard to narrow down, but the shoes that made the cut are truly elite in every aspect of what makes a good shoe. These include on-court functionality, cultural impact, aesthetics and colors, key game moments when worn by iconic athletes and more.

10. Nike Air More Uptempo ’96

Year of issue: 1996 Wearer: Scottie Pippen

The Air More Uptempo shoe worn by Scottie Pippen in 1996 has a classic look. You could even say they have the most unique look in sneaker history. “Air” is spelled out in large font, which makes a bold statement.

These shoes are popular on the street, but even more so on the court. An example of this is Scottie Pippen, who wore these shoes to the 1996 Olympics.

9. Nike Foamposite 1

Year of issue: 1997 Wearer: Penny Hardaway

The Nike Foamposite 1 was a polarizing shoe due to its unorthodox look, but their impact on the shoe game was undeniable. The Foamposite 1 modernized the look of basketball shoes and became a reference for 2000s footwear.

The shoe features a bright main color that catches all eyes. The shoe has a pivotal place in sneaker culture, thanks in large part to the success of Penny Hardaway’s advertising.

8. Reebok problem

Year of issue: 1996 Wearer: Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson had a huge impact on basketball culture, so it makes sense that his signature shoe would be one of the best and most important basketball sneakers of all time.

The look of this shoe is simple yet effective, making it one of the best non-Nike shoes ever made. The Reebok Question sneakers have also become popular with young players, especially rookies, who are making their mark. Iverson blended basketball, style and culture unlike any athlete before him, and the Reebok issue was a big reason why.

7. Nike KD 6

Year of issue: 2012 Wearer: Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant 6s ushered in a new era of basketball shoes. The signature shoes Kevin Durant wore during his MVP season were vibrant, colorful shoes with cool and unique graphics. The connotation of this pair of shoes goes beyond that. Different colors tell different stories of Durant’s life.

The Nike KD 6 arguably has the best tongue in basketball shoe history. Many of the shoes on this list are big and bulky, but the KD 6s are attractive to basketball players with slimmer feet who need shoes to fit a frame similar to Durant’s.

6. Nike Kobe 9 High Tops

Year of issue: Year 2014 Wearer: Kobe Bryant

The Nike Kobe 9 high-tops may not be suitable for most situations off the court, but they are a thing of beauty on the court. With built-in ankle support and superior traction, the shoe’s basketball capabilities are unparalleled. The shoe features Kobe’s Flyknit look, giving it a majestic and colorful look, and the shoe features some of the most bizarrely beautiful and chaotic colorways.

While the shoes might look nicer and more suitable for basketball, they could also look rugged as a fashion statement with the big, bulky tongues not tied down.

5. Nike Air Jordan XI

Year of issue: nineteen ninety-five Wearer: Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is synonymous with basketball shoes. He popularized the shoe as a cultural statement and modernized its functionality on the basketball court. Because of this, the movie “Air” was recently released. The film tells the story of how Jordan joined Nike when it was still a small company. Today, Nike is one of the largest companies in the world. The Nike Air Jordan XI is an elegant shoe that’s perfect for wearing on hardwood floors or paired with a suit and tie. It’s a modern look from an old time. The Air Jordan XI is one of the best sneakers in the best shoe line of all time.

In addition to being a beautiful shoe, the Air Jordan XI also has basketball implications. Worn by Jordan when he came back from a brief retirement and baseball career, the shoe helped lead one of the greatest players in history to once again dominate (both on the court and in the shoe game).

4. Converse Weapons

Year of issue: 1986 Wearer: Larry Bird/Magic Johnson

The Converse Weapon is a classic shoe. Although the Nike Air Jordan I predates the Converse shoe in 1986, Converse already occupied a supreme position long before Nike dominated the shoe market.

Basketball in the 1980s was dominated by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have one of the fiercest rivalries of all time, but their star players are showing just as much. Even though the shoes are the same, the huge color difference between Bird’s green shoes and Johnson’s yellow shoes makes the Converse Weapon even more eye-catching.

3. Nike Kobe 6

Year of issue: year 2011 Wearer: Kobe Bryant

The Nike Kobe 6 represents a snake due to Kobe Bryant’s nickname, the Black Mamba. The reptile-like pattern does this perfectly.

The shoe also gave the world the “Grinch” colorway, perhaps the most famous shoe colorway of all time.

2. Nike Air Jordan III

Year of issue: 1988 Wearer: Michael Jordan

The Nike Air Jordan III is a sleek shoe. The third edition of the Jordan series is the first to feature the iconic Jumpman logo. Gorgeous elephant print on the heel and toe enhances the clean look.

Michael Jordan wore these shoes during one of the greatest individual seasons in NBA history. Jordan wore these shoes to win an MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Slam Dunk Contest winner, and was a scorer averaging 35 points per game. There were rumors that Jordan considered leaving Nike, but the performance of Jordan III was so impressive that he was forced to stay. Perhaps the best decision in shoe history.

1. Nike Air Jordan I

Year of issue: 1985 Wearer: Michael Jordan

It all started with these shoes. The Nike Air Jordan I made basketball shoes so important. An industry that has become one of the biggest in apparel has Nike and Michael Jordan to thank for these shoes.

The shoe performed well on the court, especially in Jordan’s Chicago Bulls colorway, but no shoe looked better off the court. Wearing Air Jordan I, Michael Jordan also left many unforgettable moments in the NBA.