While we’d all like to buy the most expensive kicks all the time, sometimes life gets in the way. Whether it's hungry mouths to feed, being between jobs, or being savvy with money – it’s not always wise to blow all your disposable income on a pair of shoes. That’s why we’ve tried to find the 10 best most modestly priced and cheapest basketball shoes so that everyone can find a pair no matter the contents of your bank account.
When considering such shoes it’s definitely important to consider the quality of the shoe materials. Yes, it’s be expected that cheaper products will use fewer premium substances/fibers, but you shouldn’t accept something that’s going to be uncomfortable for you or that will need replacing in a short space of time.
In totality, however, you should look for the same appealing qualities when you’re looking for the same attributes you want when you buy an expensive pair. Just because you’re spending less money doesn’t mean you deserve to wear poor or inferior-level shoes. Be frugal but smart at the same time, even if it’s marked down in price if it doesn’t fit or feel right, it’s not worth it.
Top 10 Best Cheap basketball shoes
This shoe certainly punches above its weight as it performs in seemingly every department needed for a good basketball shoe. The support facilitates the feet to get power and speed in your game; while also allowing users to take the shoe on to outside courts with durable materials.
In fact, the only major down point is the aesthetics which count for very little in terms of the shoe’s abilities. Some might even consider it to be a timeless design, but by all means, it is rather plain.
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Under Armour has longed to enter the basketball shoe market with an affordable shoe to rival the most popular brands; as reviews of this shoe are always favourable considering the performance to price. The Under Armour Anatomix Spawn 3 grips the court offering a much more premium shoe while still offering great comfort.
In addition, the shoe looks more like a bespoke sneaker than a core range item, giving it real appeal to wider audiences, not just those looking to save money. The only flaw is that the heel over time could cause instability, but this is not a widely reported issue.
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While Adidas market this as a training shoe great for preparing or fine-tuning your game; reviewers believe this to be a premium shoe hidden amongst the budget section. The rubber outsole is built to last and should ensure a long life for the shoe; and as such can be used outside on a semi-frequent basis.
The cushioning might not be as plush as other shoes but seemingly every other attribute is up there with the high-end shoes. Of course, if you’re a guard or wing player you won’t need as much cushioning anyway making this one of the best cheap basketball shoes available.
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When considering cheap basketball shoes, the PUMA Court Rider is a good contender. The shoe prides itself on its securing of the foot and quality support structure ensuring the shoe passes strength on to the player.
LaMelo Ball has almost exclusively worn PUMA since joining the Charlotte Hornets in his NBA career. The 20-year-old has rocked the shoes at least 30 times; which has helped the franchise grow and get favorable results recently. Whereas Killian Hayes of the Detroit Pistons has arguably played his best basketball in this shoe.
While the price won’t be enough to scare budget-conscious consumers completely off, it’s worth noting it does sit right at the top of the budget market. For that additional price cushioning would be expected that what is presented.
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New Balance hit big in the battle for domination of the best affordable basketball shoes market with this mid-top offering, the TWO WXY. It’s a bold shoe with some outrageously cool designs, but also some nifty features. The Fuel Cell foam gives good elevation while also keeping you grounded when you need to hustle the ball around the court.
Former NBA draft first-round pick, Dejounte Murray has put a lot of faith in these shoes. If the San Antonio Spurs point guard has rocked them over 90 times in the professional NBA – it speaks volumes of the quality and value they offer your game.
One thing is to consider with this shoe is the price variation. For no obviously apparent reason this shoe hits many different price points from colorway to outlet. Some sell it below $100 while others mark it up higher. It’s always worth checking the sale rail for this one.
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Named after the Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo – these shoes might not be able to help you replicate his ball-handling skills – but will certainly help you move a little more like the Milwaukee Bucks’ power forward.
For value and durability, the Nike Giannis Immortality might rank up there with the very best cheap basketball shoes. The materials used might be inconsistent but the shoe itself should hold up for a long time even if the condition does drop. An obvious nod to the use of the word immortality.
The shoe however is still incredibly light and allows for usage on concrete courts thanks to the durability provided by the strong rubber. The full-length Phylon cushion offers some comfort with enough firm qualities to lock the foot in but does wear with time.
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Adidas makes some of the best cheap basketball shoes available right now. The Dame 7 is a testament to this. It’s a low-top contemporary all-rounder worn by NBA stars like John Collins, Ivica Zubac, and Oneyka Okongwu.
The Adidas Lightstrike cushioning is a great addition, ensuring it goes on to the shelf with unbelievable value. While commonly found for well under $100 that official retail price tag is slightly over, so be sure to shop around to find the best prices.
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Do cheap basketball shoes come in more colors than the Nike PG5? There’s so much variation, by the time you finally choose the colorway for you – the PG6 might be out! That said, once you’ve found the design the shoe will give you no further issue in the selection process as the fit is usually very good.
On the court, the shoe is praised for good responsiveness with a thick plush lining. Coupled with the traction, it will certainly put you in good stead to control the court – a little bit like Reggie Jackson who has worn these in the past. The only thing holding this model back is the material used. It’s seldom going to last forever and for it being priced slightly higher than others on this list, it’s a considerable snag.
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We suggest the low-top variation over the other top styles but all are still solid choices from this Pro Model 2G range from Adidas. Danilo Gallinari of the Atlanta Hawks is a big advocate of these shoes having worn them in over 30 games. The Italian power forward no doubt appreciates the bouncy to aid his airtime when going hard in the paint.
There are some concerns around the heel, that with excessive use (if you have a tendency to pressure the back of your foot) then slippage could occur. Otherwise, the shoe operates very well and is durable enough to survive many games.
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So many shoes with the mid-strap feature might as well just be there for decoration. This however actually utilizes it to secure the feet in. This shoe is a slimline fast-moving model designed to not hinder court mobility. There’s a multitude of colorways to choose from, so you can mix it up with the design that pleases you.
For the $99 however, players could expect a little bit more from the quality of materials used in the shoe, which in turn brings up some minor concerns over durability. That said, Patty Mills of the Brooklyn Nets has competed in over 50 games in these shoes, so if they’ll last for him they’ll last for you.
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Conclusion
All in all, there are some very good choices available which don’t have to break the bank. The Nike Precision 5 is most likely to be the best for a price usually coming in as the cheapest of all our suggestions. However in terms of value for quality for shoes then there are very appealing cases for the Adidas Harden Stepback 2 given it’s not much more expensive but is a quality product.
The New Balance TWO WXY is a great shoe no matter the cost, yet the price seems to fluctuate as much as the wind blows. If you find them below $100 then they are most certainly worth the investment.
Whether the Nike PG 5 does sit right up at the top of the price bracket but offers such good performance on indoor courts, they are worth the spend if you can do so. While the value might not be as apparent in terms of durability it’ll still hold up for a few hoops.
Frequently Asked Question:
Will these cheaper shoes last me a long time?
While the durability might be lower than high-end models, all of them are from reputable brands so should have a decent amount of playtime before you need to replace them. That of course depends on how often you play, what court you play on and how well you care for them.
If I can afford more expensive shoes should I buy them instead?
That’s your call. There are going to be shoes with bigger price tags that are better than these and some which are worse. If you want to be the height of fashion with the latest kicks, then go ahead and look at the premium ranges rather than these. But there’s no reason why these recommendations won’t serve the intended purpose of playing basketball.
Why should I buy cheaper shoes?
There are lots of reasons why cheaper options are appealing to players. For some, it might be that they don’t have the spare income to blow on the latest shoes, or newbies trying out the sport might not want to fully financially commit to a big purchase before truly committing with a shiny big price tag.
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.