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adidas Trae Young 2 Shoes
From Kareem to Dame and Ewing to Harden, the Three Stripes have long been a perennial form of footwear donned by some of the league’s most world-renowned talents — and some of the best adidas basketball shoes have been released in 2023.
It doesn’t matter if you are a professional or just someone who enjoys the look and feel of a good sneaker; the German performance giant continues its tradition of churning out quality products that assure top-of-the-line results. That applies to adidas walking shoes, adidas running shoes, or, in this instance, playing basketball indoors or outdoors. While adidas still dominates the modern scene, that applies doubly for previous generations, as the brand has arguably been at the peak of its powers since the late ’60s.
Since then, adidas has put forth some of the best sneakers to hit the hardwood for MVPs, gold medalists, and world champions, including Derrick Rose, Dwight Howard, and, at an early point in his career, the late great Kobe Bryant — keep in mind, this is in addition to the household names mentioned earlier.
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In other words, this rich history goes far beyond the adidas Samba shoes and Stan Smiths shoes, as its timeline wouldn’t be nearly as impressive if not for its retro basketball designs, with each serving as a game-changing silhouette: the Supergrip, Pro Model, and, last but not least, the almighty adidas Superstar.
Moreover, the sportswear brand has always aimed to provide comfort and protection in men’s and women’s basketball shoes, no matter how much you bring the rock up the floor or do your work in the post. Whether it’s classic designs like the trio mentioned above or modern signature styles, such as the Adidas Dame 8, you can trust that Adidas shoes are composed of the best materials and detailed craftsmanship.
To this day, they continue to innovate in the basketball department, implementing unique technology and modern design techniques that don’t only suit All-Stars all around the league but boost your game across the board. Above all else, there’s no denying how much sneaker culture has segued into the fashion world, making many adidas shoes perfect for spring outfits: Check back on adidas.com July 26 to shop the brand’s latest basketball performance and lifestyle gear.
To assist you in earning your stripes, take a look below and find the best adidas basketball shoes on the market.
Colorways: Grey and red
Weight: 6.8 ounces
Special features: Dual-density Bounce Pro provides maximum energy return and support
Colorways: White and black, yellow and black, and more
Weight: 7.5 ounces
Special features: Hybrid midsole featuring Boost and Lightstrike tech
Colorways: Red and white, navy and white, and more
Weight: 6.3 ounces
Special features: Lightstrike Strobel midsole for impact cushioning
Colorways: Blue and black, green and pink, and more
Weight: 7.5 ounces
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Colorways: Black and yellow, white and beige, and more
Weight: 8.6 ounces
Special features: Typical Lightstrike cushioning
Colorways: White and red, lilac and navy, and more
Weight: 7.75 ounces
Special features: SCK360 knit upper assures top-tier lockdown; BOOST midsole
Colorways: Black and white, white and blue, and more
Weight: 7.5 ounces
Special features: While they lack any genuine tech, the platform boosts your height a tad
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Colorways: White and black, orange, beige
Weight: 6 ounces
What to Consider When Shopping for the Best adidas Basketball Shoes
- High-top vs. low top: It’s common knowledge that countless looks and colors, whether chunky outsoles or pastel shoes, dominate the shoe game. Still, the most essential difference to consider is the age-old debate of high-top or low-top. Simply put, this hinges on what others expect of you on the court; if the coach (or whoever you play with) needs you to peruse the paint for rebounds, stick with high tops to protect your ankles. On the contrary, point guards and primary ball handlers could benefit from lightweight, low-cut silhouettes for agility’s sake.
- Style of play: Are you a spot-up shooter or ball handler? If so, your best bet is to buy something lightweight with an excellent grip to zoom past screens and your opponent’s suffocating defense. On the other hand, a rim runner that can’t help but chase blocks and boards should find something with proper cushion, stability, and support. The last three factors matter for all play styles but prove more critical for some. Moreover, players that do it all on the floor, from guarding the other team’s best player to dribbling up the court, should buy something with premium cushioning to better the constant task of running from end to end.
- Indoor vs outdoor courts: Since indoor courts are smoother than asphalt, many signature shoes suited for the hardwood feature a suction-like grip in strategic zones that prevent slippage. This notion is similar to outdoor courts, which require ultra-grippy kicks to prevent you from losing stability on rugged terrain. Of course, dependable cushioning is critical across the board, but that applies doubly for people shooting around at their local park or in their driveway. To close, you should always account for longevity; buy something made of sturdier materials like polyester or natural rubber if you play outdoors.
How We Selected the Best adidas Basketball Shoes
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items.
To select the best adidas basketball shoes to rock on and off the court, we narrowed down all the vital properties to account for when buying any basketball shoe. Then, we scoured the brand’s limitless portfolio — one chock full of unwavering silhouettes and high-performance signatures. In doing so, we placed a solid amount of stock into the three stripes’ latest tech and variations that have been proven successful. Lastly, for the human element, we took our own product testing and several customer reviews into account. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Author
Yoni Yardeni is a Los Angeles-based fashion, footwear and culture journalist whose previous work has appeared in HiConsumption and HotNewHipHop. At the former, the long-time basketball fan composed several hands-on reviews on some of adidas’ best hiking boots and shoes. Learn more about Footwear News here.
