While the position might not be as glamorous as other roles on court, the center player holds a large amount of responsibility within the starting five. Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Shaquille O’Neal all mastered the position and going to become not only the most well-known centers but also the most decorated.
But what do you need to replicate the same triumphs of contemporary NBA Stars like Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Jarrett Allen? While you should already be fit, brimming with agility, and have good reactions as a center player – the right pair of Basketball shoes could take your game to the next level.
What Centers Players need to maximize their game
Center players are typically one of the tallest players on the court. Their natural height can give them a distinct advantage in the role; but also means they need shoes that’ll hold them in and suit a naturally heavy/bigfoot.
The three major duties in this position are typically: shot-blocking, rebounding, and passing the ball around. For these responsibilities, it’s wise to look for shoes that’ll help you move suddenly and maximize your reach to ensure you can obtain and distribute the ball more efficiently.
Remember however you need to buy shoes that suit you. We’ve picked out eight of our favourites, if they sound like they’ll benefit you then we recommend you get your hands on a pair. Equally, if you’re game is a little different from the standard center tactic – then you might want to consider other options. That said, we’ve only picked out exceptional shoes that any player would benefit from in some capacity!
Top 8 Best Basketball Shoes For Centers
Denver Nuggets’ Serbian center, Nikola Jokic has risen to prominence in recent years given he was named as the NBA MVP in 2021; as well as picking up an Olympic Silver medal in 2016. Jokic is quite clearly a fan of the Nike Zoom technology having recorded his best stats in shoes from this franchise. He’s not the only notable user of this shoe though, 2016 NBA Champion; Tristan Thompson has worn them on occasion as has Utah Jazz guard, Rudy Gay.
From the price point, you would expect nothing but top-quality premium materials and high-end features. The Nike Air Zoom GT came out in three different incarnations, but we’re going to concentrate on the Jump as that was custom engineered for basketball.
The duopoly of Zoom Air units links up with the React foam to ensure bounce and protection from adverse impact. The enhanced cushioning in line with this makes for a comfy shoe that suits the bigger nature of the center player.
This shoe is well-known within the contemporary basketball world for several designs, spanning the slimline monochrome to gaudy ‘Multi-Color’ design which combines all three primary colors with a green tube at the sole in a truly remarkable colorway.
While the shoe is in the more lavish end of the basketball shoe marketplace, it still offers good value considering the range of designs, and it is loaded with bespoke Nike technology to maximize your game.
Pros:
Cons:
The Air Jordan 35 patron list reads like ‘who’s who of exceptional talent in the NBA. Japanese international and Washington Wizards forward, Rui Hachimura; LA Lakers veteran Carmelo Anthony and Nugget’s Jeff Green have all rocked the AJ35 frequently.
10-time NBA All-Star, Carmelo Anthony might not be a center player – but has the ball-handling skills to make any center player jealous. He’s made a living from threading balls through the smallest of openings to help his team forward. The AJ35 will help him and any player spring into life with tremendous lift-off from the eclipse plate 2.0 and two Zoom Air units which ensures you maximize your reach and height.
While the shoe occupies a more lavish price point, it is merited considering the amount of high-end technology used and the extremely unique design – which is very fashionable.
A major drawback to these shoes is that if you play out on the dusty outdoor courts the shoes won’t hold up. Be sure to swap them out before you play in the public courts and reserve these kicks for the finest inside courts to ensure they last.
Pros:
Cons:
The Nike LeBron 19 is not for the faint of heart. Whether it’s the bulky design or top-end price tag this one is certainly for the LeBron super fans and those who want additional cushioning. Oh and to top things off this shoe debuted in LeBron’s Space Jam: A New Legacy; to add to its eye-catching appeal.
If you’re a bigger yet more mobile center player then you should seriously consider this shoe. While it’s not going to win accolades for its traction; this shoe more than makes up for that with its cushioning and impact protection attributes.
While the design could be considered gaudy; there’s certainly a market out there for such exuberant designs; especially considering the amount of high-end technology has invested into the shoe with two air units. The only snag is that the loaded and bulky nature does make the shoe quite heavy compared to other contemporary options.
It’s not just the iconic LeBron James who is rocking these; Diana Taurasi; one of the most successful female players in the WNBA has worn these on occasion during her recent years at Footprint Center with Phoenix Mercury.
Pros:
Cons:
Touted as a contemporary all-rounder shoe, we believe the Jordan React Elevation will suit most centers. Given the amount of jumping and airtime the center play needs to block, rebound and find those killer passes having a shoe that will support you into the stratosphere will no doubt benefit. In addition, the responsive bounce will assist you in getting to those pressure points where you need to reclaim the ball.
Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo and Mortiz Wagner of the Orlando Magic have made a living from quick and agility-led plays which have seen them rely on their Jordan React Elevation kicks to get forward plays moving. Wagner notably found 13 rebounds in a single game while wearing these very shoes.
A killer attribute of this shoe is its rubber durability. It’s excellent to see Jordan making top-notch basketball shoes for those who want to play on the outdoor courts as well; especially at such a good price point.
While the weaknesses are few and far between with this shoe one potential snagging point is that some of the materials could be considered lower quality; especially when considering the whole shoe and the price tag.
Pros:
Cons:
While the likes of Rui Hachimura, Jayson Tatum, and Carmelo Anthony all have taken the Air Jordan 36 shoes out onto the court, as a center – you should look at how Brooklyn Nets’ LaMarcus Aldrige, Cody Zeller from the Portland Trail Blazers, and Washington Wizards’ Thomas Bryant maximize their success in the shoe.
The traction is simply next level on this shoe. Given the narrow margins between success and failure when making a pass in basketball, these kicks allow you to position yourself exactly where you want to be to make up the hard yards.
The quality is evident throughout the shoe from its slipper-like cushioning, making it feel like your personal shoe from the first wear – while the weaving on the exterior ensures it locks the feet in with both security and support. What is a telling difference when going hard in the paint is that this shoe is laden with multiple Zoom Air units of different shapes and sizes. These will be very useful to get the necessary airtime when vying for tough rebounds.
As with many of the top-tier basketball shoes, this is built for indoor use almost exclusively. If you’re thinking of taking your game to the local park court then leave these kicks at home.
Pros:
Cons:
As if LeBron James didn’t have enough sponsorships or business deals! Not only does Nike work on his signature series; but the Soldier line has been another great addition to his sneaker portfolio.
While not necessarily or deliberately aimed at the ‘bigger foot’ market, this shoe does a lot for basketballers in the same ilk as Shaq. Big and a center. The support and lace-up combination ensure your feet aren’t getting away from you – while the cushioning ensures that you won’t have an adverse impact when gravity pulls you down from some big height.
Chicago Bulls’ Tristan Thompson is a great example of the target demographic. He’s a bigger and heavier guy, so needs the support and protection. The center actually played with LeBron himself as the pair were integral to the 2015/16 Cleveland Cavaliers NBA championship win. He’s since become a loyal follower of his former teammates' shoe range, and notably got his career points high in this shoe as he netted 19 against in a victory for Cleveland against the Atlanta Hawks in 2020.
The traction does however fall short of a lot of other shoes on the market. By no means bad, it’s not quite as good as other shoes which have made it a real selling point. The shoe however does make up for it with durability as even bigger feet won’t wear them out quickly. Outdoor usage isn’t completely frowned upon; but certainly isn’t recommended all the time in these.
Interestingly, Jusuf Nurkic the Bosnian center of the Portland Trail Blazers wore these shoes twice – going on to break some personal performance records; having played relatively well in them before putting his pair back on the shelf.
Pros:
Cons:
Derrick Rose might not be a center player but his Son of Chi shoe in collaboration with Adidas still offers great attributes to those in that position.
The cushion and support make this shoe incredibly useful to those with bigger feet playing in the center. Such players can navigate the court with the superb traction this shoe offers with a great outsole pattern. This level of traction is usually missing when it comes to shoes under the 100 dollar mark; which really does make this shoe fantastic value for money. Derrick has taken these shoes out on the court numerous times; showing that even at the highest level of basketball – a good shoe doesn’t have to be expensive.
Reviews are generally favourable when considering this shoe’s durability and usability when it comes to the harder outdoor courts. While you should still exercise some caution not to ragdoll them on concrete you can still use them for the odd outdoor hoop.
Be sure to double-check the size fits you as one notable comment is that the sizes of this particular shoe sometimes have a tendency to run smaller than anticipated.
Pros:
Cons:
The Nike Renew Elevate is a clear nod to the All-Rounder and one-size-fits-all market which of course has an incredibly wide market reach. This shoe is lightweight and affordable, opening itself up to that larger market.
That said, it’s not just the budget market that is interested in this shoe. DeAndre Jordan, the center player from the Los Angeles Lakers has played in this shoe a few times before in the NBA. Showing that it’s not always how much you pay for your shoes that matters.
The typical center position players will benefit from this durable shoe’s cushioning as it provides a good base and adequate bounce. The structured mesh offers enough security to keep players grounded while the foam gently supplies fuel to those lift-off moments when blocking or rebounding.
The design won’t win you any beauty pageants or accolades for stylistic design, but this shoe is style over substance, and for less than 80 dollars you’re getting a good shoe that will keep you bouncing across the courts. Oh and that’s all types of courts too; as this shoe has been touted as suitable for outdoor courts due to its extensive durability.
Pros:
Cons:
Conclusion
These eight shoes are our top suggestions to all center players looking for new basketball shoes across all abilities and courts. If money is no object to you then Nike Lebron 19 is an exceptional shoe that grabs headlines for multiple reasons – other than appearing alongside Bugs Bunny in the new Space Jam movie.
Nike’s efforts across its core range and the various Jordan lines boast a great ability to perform for center players with multiple Air Zoom units loaded in such shoes as the Nike Air Zoom GT Jump and both Air Jordan 35 and 36. These shoes are again at the top bracket of the marketplace price so naturally appeal more to those with more disposable income.
Archrivals in the sportswear world, Adidas are noteworthy too. The D Rose Son of Chi comes in at the other end of the pricing spectrum. The $99 price tag offers fantastic unbeatable value compared to a lot of the other shoes in this article.
Even more affordable is the Nike Renew Elevate which offers more great value and performs on both indoor and outdoor courts. Bear in mind however that the latter is not in the same fashion ilk of a lot of these shoes.
Lebron James takes the headlines again in the mid-range; with his Nike Lebron Soldier 14 shoe which is an exceptional choice for those looking for a mix of quality and value. This particular model is loaded with bespoke technology to aid with hangtime and elevation.
Occupying the same intermediate market, the Jordan React Elevation similarly offers great value. While the shoe’s consistent quality of materials has been brought up as the only major drawback; they’re still exceptionally durable and will serve you long enough that you won’t have to worry about replacing them anytime soon. This is still an exceptional pair of shoes for this price.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do I need to be as tall as Shaquille O’Neal to get the best out of these shoes?
No! Shaq is a one-of-a-kind human specimen, while he was an exceptional center player he isn’t the definition of success in the position. The totality of your triumphs in the middle of the court comes from you.
What if I change my position?
Don’t worry! All eight of these shoes are exceptional and will serve you well even if you don’t play as a center every week or your coach changes around your tactics. These eight have been cherrypicked for the center position, but they’ll still perform well for you elsewhere.
Can I buy these shoes if I’m not a center?
Of course, you can! Even if you’re not playing in the center position but these shoes seem like they’d help your game – then it’s definitely worth considering them. There’s no reason why they won’t work for you outside that position. In fact, no shoe manufacturer states ‘these will only work for X position’.
Will I be a better center player if I buy these shoes?
It’s not impossible! The real work comes from you and your training. If you’re putting the hard graft in however and you need that edge; that extra something to make you just a little better – then any of these shoes could help you get ahead of your game.
Hey, I’m Aleksandar and I am a Basketball freak! That is why I decided to create this blog. Teaching people How to dunk a basketball and How to Jump Higher in this sport or other related sports that require vertical jumping, is my specialty. If that’s your aim, then you have come to the right place.