Best Basketball Shoes of All Time

The shoe that started everything. Nike almost didn't sign Jordan. Adidas and Converse passed. Then Peter Moore designed a red and black high-top that the NBA banned for violating uniform rules, and Nike paid the $5,000 fine every game because the controversy was worth billions. The Air Jordan 1 created sneaker culture, athlete branding, and a $5 billion empire. Every basketball shoe since is living in its shadow.

The shoe Jordan wore when he came back. Patent leather on a basketball shoe was considered insane in 1995. Tinker Hatfield designed it anyway, and it became the most beautiful basketball shoe ever made. Jordan wore them for the 72-10 season and the flu game. The Concord colorway is the most coveted sneaker release in history. When people camp outside stores for shoes, this is the shoe they are thinking of.

The best performance basketball shoe ever made. Kobe demanded a low-top when every other star wore high-tops, and Nike delivered the most responsive, lightweight court shoe in history. The Kobe 6 changed how basketball shoes are designed. Every modern low-top performance shoe traces its DNA back here. The Grinch colorway on Christmas Day is one of the most iconic sneaker moments ever.

The shoe that saved the Jordan line. MJ was ready to leave Nike until Tinker Hatfield showed him the Jordan 3 with visible Air, elephant print, and the Jumpman logo. Jordan wore them for the 1988 Slam Dunk Contest — the free throw line dunk — and the rest is history. The White Cement is arguably the most timeless basketball sneaker colorway ever designed.

A shoe from the future that arrived in 1997. The molded foam upper was unlike anything basketball had ever seen. Eric Avar designed it to look like it was poured, not stitched. Penny Hardaway wore them and they became the most futuristic basketball shoe ever made. The Royal Blue colorway still causes riots at release. Twenty-eight years later, nothing else looks like a Foamposite.

"The Shot" over Craig Ehlo. The shoe that crossed over from basketball to hip-hop when Spike Lee wore them as Mars Blackmon in the Nike commercials. The mesh panels, the visible Air unit, the plastic wing eyelets — everything about the Jordan 4 was a step forward in design. The Bred and White Cement colorways are permanent fixtures in sneaker culture.

The peak of the LeBron line in terms of cultural relevance. The LeBron 7 dropped during his first MVP season and the shoe matched the energy — bold, powerful, and impossible to ignore. The Christmas colorway and the "China Moon" are grails. LeBron needed a tank of a shoe because he played like a tank, and the LeBron 7 delivered.

The original basketball shoe. Before Nike existed, before Jordan was born, every basketball player in America wore Chuck Taylors. They have zero ankle support, zero cushioning, and zero technology — and they dominated basketball for 50 years. More importantly, they became the most iconic casual shoe in history. Over a billion pairs sold. The shoe that proved basketball sneakers could transcend the sport.

The shoe that proved low-tops could work in the NBA. When Kobe asked for a low-top, Nike designers thought he was joking. He was not joking. The Kobe 4 was lighter, faster, and more responsive than anything on the market, and Kobe won his fourth championship in them. Every guard who wears low-tops today is following the trail Kobe blazed.

Luka's first signature shoe with Jordan Brand. The Luka 1 was designed for deceleration — the opposite of what most basketball shoes optimize for. Because Luka does not beat you with speed; he beats you by slowing down and making you react to his pace changes. The shoe has excellent traction and a stable base for step-back threes. It is the perfect shoe for a player who scores 73 points without ever looking like he is trying hard.

The first basketball shoe with Nike Air technology. Designed by Bruce Kilgore in 1982 for Moses Malone and the Philadelphia 76ers. On the court, the Air Force 1 was revolutionary — Air cushioning changed everything. Off the court, it became the most important shoe in hip-hop history. The white-on-white AF1 is the best-selling sneaker of all time. It transcended basketball entirely.

The sequel to Luka's debut signature. The Luka 2 improved on the original with better cushioning and a more refined look. Luka wore these during his 73-point game against the Hawks — the fourth-highest scoring game in NBA history. When your shoe is on the court for a 73-point game, the performance speaks for itself. The Luka line is building its own legacy, one step-back at a time.

The shoe Curry wore for his second championship. Under Armour bet the company on Stephen Curry and the Curry 4 was their peak basketball moment — a knit upper with excellent court feel for the greatest shooter who ever lived. Curry's game is all about quick releases and sudden stops, and the Curry 4 delivered the responsiveness he needed.

Harden left Nike for Adidas in a $200 million deal, and the Vol. 1 justified every penny. Full-length Boost cushioning made it the most comfortable basketball shoe on the market. The low-cut design gave Harden the ankle freedom for his step-back three — the move that made him MVP. The shoe was built for isolation basketball, which is exactly how Harden plays.

The shoe that put the KD line on the map. The KD 4 was lightweight, low-profile, and designed for a 6'10" forward who moved like a guard. Nike Zoom cushioning in the forefoot gave Durant the responsiveness for his pull-up jumper — the most unguardable shot in basketball. The "Nerf" colorway became an instant classic. KD4 proved signature shoes do not need to cost $200 to be elite.