50 Best Basketball Shoes of All Time
Air Jordans reached new heights after Michael Jordan’s performance in the 1988 NBA Slam Dunk Contest. John Swart / AP Photo
Some of the best basketball players have worn some of the best shoes. But just as there are debates about the greatest players of all time, picking the greatest basketball shoes of all time is even more difficult.
So guess what? We’re going to stick our necks out and name the greatest shoes. (Critics, get ready.) The debate began as the list was being made. Is the definition of greatness the way shoes look, the way they feel, or are they the signature kicks of our favorite players? It could be all of that and more.
Who in their right mind would do such an evaluation? (We would.) The rating of these shoes comes from many areas: how they perform, what made them popular, what some experts said about these shoes, along with some of the criteria already mentioned. These are the best basketball shoes of all time.
50. Under Armour Curry 2.5
Release year: 2016
Who wore them: Stephen Curry
What made the shoes iconic: Maybe it’s not the shoes but the player who is wearing them. Curry has become one of the most well-liked athletes in sports. If these shoes work for him, they might work for you, too.
49. Nike Air Alonzo
Release year: 1997
Who wore them: Alonzo Mourning
What made the shoes iconic: Alonzo Mourning made his shoes iconic. After signing a sweet deal with the Miami Heat, he joined the elite of the NBA, and his popularity was soaring.
48. Starbury
Release year: 2006
Who wore them: Stephon Marbury
What made the shoes iconic: The name of the sneakers was a good attraction, but you also received a quality sneaker that performed indoors and outdoors at a low price. Consumers like that combination.
47. Jordan Melo M10
Release year: 2014
Who wore them: Carmelo Anthony
What made the shoes iconic: One fan tries to calm another fan down in the commercial for the M10 as they are stuck in a subway heading to a Knicks game. They begin to imagine Anthony having the game-winning drive with the premise “Stay Melo.” And all is calm.