Considering how important signature basketball shoes are to the world of sneakers and sneaker collecting—the Air Jordan, after all, was designed to play basketball in, even if most of us would never dare wear our pristine Jordan 1s to hoop—it’s amazing how rarely the lifestyle and performance realms overlap these days. The sneakers that NBA stars wear in the tunnel are not the same ones they wear during games, needless to say: their stylish pre-game kicks don’t offer much in the way of performance-enhancing technology, and the shoes that give hoopers an edge on the hardwood don’t often look cool when just lounging.
But it would be a mistake to overlook performance footwear entirely: the best modern basketball shoes are marvels of engineering and design, and even if they’re not always as eye-catching with casualwear as retro classics, they still have plenty to offer aesthetically. From striking iterations of long-time lines to debuts with up-and-coming brands, these are the best signature basketball shoes we've seen in the NBA and the WNBA this year.
Over the past few seasons, Chinese shoe brand Anta has made some major in-roads into the Western-dominated world of professional basketball endorsements. Hornets star Gordon Hayward's latest shoe with brand, the GH4, features a fresh design and strong technical elements.
One of the nice things about signing with a lesser-known shoe brand like 361 Degrees? Aaron Gordon’s signature sneakers don’t look much like anything else on the market. Gordon, whose Nuggets are still riding high off their championship season, broke the mold with the fourth iteration of his signature shoe: the AG4 has a sci-fi look and feel that demands attention on the court.
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Although not technically a full-blown signature sneaker, Nike’s PE tribute to reigning WNBA Finals MVP A’Ja Wilson deserves a place on this list for sheer looks alone. Let’s hope this is the first step toward a line of Wilson’s own.
Puma’s second sneaker for the New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, the Stewie 2, shares some of the captivating design DNA of fellow Puma ambassador Lamelo Ball’s much-hyped shoes, set apart by a gorgeous sculpted heel and all-around lightweight cushioning. We’re particularly impressed by the recent “Water” colorway, rendered in crisp aquamarine with a great '90s feel.
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The 21st installment of Nike's stalwart LeBron James sneaker line is another low-key, low-top powerhouse. Released this past September, the shoe has already been seen in a handful of dazzling colorways that elevate the simple silhouette to something more striking. We're especially partial to the impressionistic "Abalone" version dropping this week. Time has yet to slow down LBJ— and it certainly hasn't made his signature kicks boring, either.
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Weighing in at less than 12 ounces, this ultra-light sneaker from Boston Celtics All Star Jayson Tatum is a must-have for anyone seeking a competitive edge. The fact that it’s also one of Jordan Brand’s best-looking signatures in several years is just icing on the cake.
The ultra-plush KD 16 is one of the best-looking iterations of Kevin Durant's long-running Nike signatures, which has already paid loving homage to a sneaker classic with the return of the beloved "Aunt Pearl" colorway this past October. It's a welcome return to form for the future Hall of Famer's kicks, who himself looks rejuvenated on court with the Suns this season.
Not long after landing with the Clippers earlier this month, James Harden unveiled the Harden Vol. 8, which builds on the out-there silhouette of the Vol. 7 with an even trippier futuristic design. So far, our personal favorite colorway has to be the Day-Glo pink version he played in earlier this week against the Nuggets. This is about as wildly original as performance sneakers get, and we can't help but be impressed by the aesthetic gall.
Austin Reaves's ascent from unsigned obscurity to overnight NBA stardom has been extraordinary to witness. After helping the Lakers make a deep playoff run last season, Reaves signed a well-deserved four-year, $56-million max contract, making him one of the best-compensated young players in the league. To celebrate this achievement, Reaves linked up with Chinese footwear brand Rigorer to release his first-ever signature sneaker: the AR1. The shoe's OG “Ice Cream” colorway doused the chic silhouette in crisp white and smears of pastels. Limited to just 2,000 pairs, it’s one of the year's most dazzling signature basketball shoes.
Since its debut earlier this year, New York Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu's Sabrina 1—the first-ever women's signature basketball shoe with a unisex design—has become ubiquitous among players across both the WNBA and NBA. With Nike’s React cushioning in the back and a Zoom Air unit in the front, it’s a sleek, dynamic, and responsive sneaker that deserves every bit of its crossover success.
Although not yet released to the general public, Phoenix Suns superstar Devin Booker’s first-ever signature sneaker from Nike is already one of the most coveted shoes in the league. Designed in homage to some of the most classic sneakers in the Swoosh's hoops lineup, it’s by far the most versatile performance model we’ve seen in ages—a must-have even for those who don’t hoop regularly.
