10+ Best Budget Basketball Shoes – WearTesters

When we talk about budget basketball shoes or cheap basketball shoes, a common misconception is that they are worse on-court performers than their signature or flagship counterparts. But even though brands need to reduce costs to make their basketball shoes cheaper, therefore packing less valuable tech and materials into these types of shoes, there are still excellent performance basketball shoes among them.

Admittedly, when we are talking about cheap hoop shoes, things get a little more hit or miss, but there are still plenty of great basketball shoes out there in this category. In fact, we see budget basketball shoes make our overall best basketball shoes list all the time, you just have to do a little more digging. Fortunately, here at Weartesters we test hundreds of basketball shoes every year on court, so all the hard work is already done and all is left is to find the best cheap basketball shoe for you.

To that end, we have made several lists to help you find the best affordable basketball shoes out there that fit your playing style. Here you will find the best budget basketball shoes currently on the market, but we also have lists of the best value basketball shoes and the best basketball shoe deals. Here we will be looking at shoes that were released as budget basketball shoes, in our value list you may find more expensive models that offer a ton of bang for your buck and on our deals page you can find great shoes that are now on sale.

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Last updated 02.27.2023

Best Budget Basketball Shoes: Performance Models

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Nike Air Max Impact 4

The Nike Air Max Impact 4 is absolutely the best cheap basketball shoes on the market today. The cushion provides the biggest bang for your buck. They’re incredibly soft and comfortable for what is most likely Phylon. Add that to a soft upper that needs no break-in time and you have a great-feeling shoe. Support is terrific with two outriggers and the fit is wide-foot friendly. There’s really no other shoe under $100 that performs this well, this consistently. If you enjoyed the Nike Air Max Impact 3, you will love this model. The best cheap basketball shoe hands down. Read the full review. Price: $90

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Buy Nike Air Max Impact 4

Nike Precision 6

The Nike Precision 6 is another budget model that isn’t too popular but performs pretty well for its price point. The Phylon used here is decent. It isn’t anything crazy, but it should get the job done, especially outdoors. The real highlight of the shoe is the traction. The bite was really good and Nike did a great job of not messing up the herringbone and used the right rubber compound. The Precision 6 for sure isn’t going to blow you away, but it’s a decent option. Read the full review. Price: $75

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Buy Nike Precision 6

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adidas Dame Certified

The adidas Dame Certified is Damian Lillard’s budget model for the year, a very solid performance basketball shoe overall. The Dame Certified features full-length Bounce cushioning which is on the reactive side, great durable traction, and a highly functional upper built with nice cheap layered materials. All of this for just $100, making this a great budget basketball shoe from adidas. Watch the full review. Price: $95

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Buy adidas Dame Certified

Adidas Son of Chi 2

The adidas Son of Chi 2 may end up as the best adidas basketball shoe of 2022. The traction is a big highlight of its performance. Even with translucent rubber, the shoe gripped all floors well, regardless of court conditions. It’s also durable and will last longer than most rubber outsoles today. The full-length Bounce midsole provides impact protection even with 0mm of drop. Even though it doesn’t look like much, it is top in its class as far as budget basketball shoes go. Read the full review. Price: TBA

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Buy Adidas Son of Chi 2

Nike KD Trey 5 X

The Nike KD Trey 5 X is Kevin Durant’s latest budget signature model that takes cues from his flagship, in this case the Nike KD 14. The biggest and most welcome surprise is the cushion. The foam midsole is Renew, and a rectangular forefoot Zoom Air unit is in the forefoot, similar to the Nike Kyrie Low 5. It provides impact protection without making you sink into the midsole. This department didn’t feel budget at all. Read the full review. Price: $100

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Buy Nike KD Trey 5 X

Nike Giannis Immortality 2

The Nike Giannis Immortality 2, are Giannis Antetokounmpo’s budget basketball shoes, and they are very similar to the first edition. Which is good news.

The shoe features a Phylon midsole, the same grippy and durable traction pattern as in the Immortality 1 and functional but cheap materials. If you are looking for a cheap basketball shoe with a reactive cushioning set up and great traction, check these out. Read the full review. Price: $85

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Buy Nike Giannis Immortality 2

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Nike LeBron Witness 7

Where else would you find a nearly full-length Air for $115? The Nike LeBron Witness 7 is the best “cheap basketball shoe” with a max cushion setup. You also get a beefy outsole with an aggressive herringbone traction pattern.

This shoe proves how much budget basketball shoes have evolved and improved over the years. Read the full review. Price: $115

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Buy Nike LeBron Witness 7

Under Armour Spawn 4

The Under Armour Spawn 4 is a great under-the-radar offering from Under Armour. The shoe features full-length MicroG which is excellent and very grippy traction. Materials are nothing to write home about, but they are lightweight, breathable, and functional. Read the full review. Price: $110

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Buy Under Armour Spawn 4

Li-Ning Sonic Team Low

The Li-Ning Sonic Team Low is an outdoor basketball hooper’s dream shoe, especially if you’re a point guard. The outsole is made of what they call “Tuff RB” for tough rubber. The shoe can hold up to not only hours upon hours but also months of outdoor play. The grip was never inconsistent and just looked dirty after all the hours put in it. The upper is what Li-Ning calls Cool Shell which is basically the ripstop front half and the mesh back half. And the price will be in the “budget basketball shoes range” once it hits the Li-Ning Amazon store. See the full review. Price: TBA

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Buy Li-Ning Sonic Team Low

adidas Harden Stepback 3

The adidas Harden Stepback 3 is not as good as the adidas Harden Vol. 6, but it’s still a great cheap basketball shoe option. The Bounce foam midsole feels like the one we fell in love with a few years ago. The materials are basic yet comfortable. The fit is accommodating, and wide-footers will especially enjoy it. The best part is the traction. It grips every surface, outdoor and indoor. Read the full review. Price: $80

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Shop Harden at adidas

Curry 3Z6

The Curry 3Z6 is solid, though some aspects need improvement. Our favorite feature is the traction. It’s thick and grips well on all courts, including concrete and blacktop outdoor courts. If you can deal with the minimal MicroG midsole, you’ll enjoy a stable ride. These shoes will be a great option, especially for shooters. And at $80, this is right in the cheap basketball shoe sweet spot. One of the best budget basketball shoes out there. See the full review. Price: $80

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Buy Curry 3Z6

Nike Renew Elevate 3

The Nike Renew Elevate 3 made some aesthetic improvements from the previous model. The cushion is Nike’s takedown version of React called Renew. The implementation is different here because the main Renew foam is only 3/4 length, thickest in the heel, and the rest of the midsole is regular EVA. As far as fit is concerned, we advise that you try this in-store in both your true size and half a size down. Fit is critical in getting the proper support. Price: $80

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Buy Nike Renew Elevate 3

Best Budget Basketball Shoes: Outdoor Options

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Nike Air Max Impact 4

The Nike Air Max Impact 3 is again our top pick, even for playing outdoors. The cushion setup is the main reason. The cushy set-up will keep you playing pain-free outdoors for hours.

The upper is soft but resilient, and the shoe’s outsoles grip well, and will withstand the rigors of outdoor play. On top of that, the support is great so it is a no-brainer pick for the top budget outdoor shoe available. Read the full review. Price: $90

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Buy Nike Air Max Impact 4

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Wade Shadow 4

The Wade Shadow 4 makes an appearance in our Wade All City 11 review. The midsole is composed of two technologies. The main foam you’re going to feel is Cloud, an EVA-based foam. The forefoot features a BOOM puck which is Pebax-based. Don’t worry if they feel stiff to start. We promise the break-in will be worth it. The best cheap basketball shoe from Way of Wade. Price: $119 $99

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Buy Wade Shadow 4

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Nike LeBron Witness 7

The Nike LeBron Witness 7 is a great outdoor option. The shoe packs a ton of cushioning at a very reasonable price. The shoe features an almost full-length Air unit, as well as a durable outsole.

On top of that, the Nike LeBron Witness 7 offers some beefy support features which will help you feel confident cutting and changing directions out on the blacktop. Read the full review. Price: $115

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Buy Nike LeBron Witness 7

Thinking of a shoe we should add to the best budget basketball shoes list? Comment below or message us on Instagram or Twitter.