Best Adidas Shoes for Basketball
Every pair below cleared the bar of 4.3-star averages and 200+ Amazon reviews. You’ll see solid ankle coverage, dependable traction, and a spread of heights and price points, so you can choose what helps you play hard without drawing unwanted attention in the stands.
adidas Dame 8
The Dame 8’s Bounce Pro midsole softens landings yet keeps you lightning quick, while the radial-groove outsole bites hardwood and dusty rec courts alike. Mid-cut padding guards ankles, and muted colorways slip into any team uniform.
- ✓ Reliable court-gripping traction
- ✓ Responsive, impact-absorbing cushioning
- ✓ Strong ankle and lateral support
- ✓ Secure true-to-size fit and lockdown
- ✓ Lightweight overall construction
- ✓ Breathable, moisture-wicking upper
- ✓ Durable outsole and reinforced toe areas
- ✓ Stable, low-profile court feel
- ✓ Appealing style and colorway options
- ✓ Solid price-to-performance value
Overall score: 10/10
adidas Harden Stepback 3
This low-top packs a grippy herringbone pattern, plush Bounce midsole, and wide forefoot base that feels balanced on jab steps. A no-frills upper keeps weight down and coverage up without flashy vents or cutouts.
- ✓ Traction
- ✓ Cushioning
- ✓ Support
- ✓ Fit & lockdown
- ✓ Lightweight build
- ✓ Breathable upper
- ✓ Durable outsole & toe
- ✗ Low-profile feel (rides a touch higher)
- ✓ Style variety
- ✓ Price-to-performance
Overall score: 9/10
adidas D.O.N. Issue 4
Donovan Mitchell’s signature shoe uses ultra-light Lightstrike foam for nimble moves and deep flex grooves for quick stops. The sculpted sidewalls hug your foot, giving secure coverage without bulky straps.
- ✓ Traction
- ✓ Cushioning
- ✓ Support
- ✓ Fit & lockdown
- ✓ Lightweight build
- ✓ Breathable upper
- ✓ Durability
- ✓ Low-profile feel
- ✓ Style options
- ✗ Price-to-performance (premium tier)
Overall score: 9/10
adidas Trae Young 3
The latest Trae model uses a torsion bar and forefoot steering wheel pattern to keep you glued to the floor. Lightweight mesh and responsive foam give airy comfort, though the collar sits lower for those who prefer more freedom around the ankle.
- ✓ Traction
- ✓ Cushioning
- ✗ Support (low-cut collar)
- ✓ Fit & lockdown
- ✓ Lightweight build
- ✓ Breathable upper
- ✓ Durability
- ✓ Low-profile feel
- ✓ Style options
- ✓ Price-to-performance
Overall score: 9/10
adidas Own The Game 2.0
A budget-friendly mid-cut that feels anything but cheap. The Cloudfoam midsole eases impact, Adiwear rubber lasts season after season, and the classic three-stripe upper delivers full foot coverage with no see-through zones.
- ✓ Traction
- ✓ Cushioning
- ✓ Support
- ✓ Fit & lockdown
- ✓ Lightweight build
- ✓ Breathable upper
- ✓ Durability
- ✗ Low-profile feel (slightly thicker midsole)
- ✓ Style options
- ✓ Price-to-performance
Overall score: 9/10
adidas Pro N3XT 2021
Designed for high-school leagues, the Pro N3XT uses multilayer mesh that hides socks and gives steady airflow. Cushioned pods under heel and forefoot tame hard landings, though stability wings are slimmer than premium models.
- ✓ Traction
- ✓ Cushioning
- ✗ Support (minimal sidewalls)
- ✓ Fit & lockdown
- ✓ Lightweight build
- ✓ Breathable upper
- ✗ Durability (softer outsole rubber)
- ✓ Low-profile feel
- ✓ Style options
- ✓ Price-to-performance
Overall score: 8/10
adidas Exhibit B Mid (Women)
The Exhibit B wraps the midfoot in supportive synthetic panels and keeps toes shielded with a raised bumper. Rebound foam stays plush, though extra overlays add weight compared with the lightest unisex pairs.
- ✓ Traction
- ✓ Cushioning
- ✓ Support
- ✓ Fit & lockdown
- ✗ Lightweight build
- ✓ Breathable upper
- ✓ Durability
- ✓ Low-profile feel
- ✓ Style options
- ✗ Price-to-performance (limited discounts)
Overall score: 8/10
adidas Hoops 3.0 Mid
Inspired by classic ’80s silhouettes, the Hoops 3.0 Mid hides knit socks, offers a sturdy cupsole, and brings plenty of street-to-court style. Cushioning is basic EVA, so it feels firm for marathon runs but fine for casual runs and shootaround.
- ✓ Traction
- ✗ Cushioning
- ✓ Support
- ✓ Fit & lockdown
- ✓ Lightweight build
- ✓ Breathable upper
- ✓ Durability
- ✗ Low-profile feel
- ✓ Style options
- ✓ Price-to-performance
Overall score: 8/10
adidas Dame Certified
This wallet-friendly Lillard trainer borrows the Dame 8’s outsole pattern for sticky grip and uses dual-density foam to balance court feel with comfort. Perforated synthetics breathe well, though the raised heel sits higher than pro-level lows.
- ✓ Traction
- ✓ Cushioning
- ✓ Support
- ✓ Fit & lockdown
- ✗ Lightweight build
- ✓ Breathable upper
- ✓ Durability
- ✗ Low-profile feel
- ✓ Style options
- ✓ Price-to-performance
Overall score: 8/10
adidas Cross Em Up Select Jr (Kids)
Built for school gyms, this junior model combines a non-marking outsole with a padded mid-cut collar that keeps young ankles happy. The synthetic upper wipes clean fast, making it a stress-free pick for parents seeking modest, durable gear.
- ✓ Traction
- ✓ Cushioning
- ✓ Support
- ✓ Fit & lockdown
- ✓ Lightweight build
- ✓ Breathable upper
- ✓ Durability
- ✗ Low-profile feel
- ✓ Style options
- ✗ Price-to-performance (youth sizes often cost nearly adult pricing)
Overall score: 8/10