The 5 Best Basketball Shoes Under $150
Last updated on October 30th, 2022 at 03:53 am
Getting a reliable pair of basketball shoes can be a daunting task. Forget about your typical spare shoes or basic training shoes.
Shopping for shoes that you can comfortably tag along to basketball tournaments, league games, or various types of competitions. Sneakers that you will not only rely on but one that will last for a long time.
From what we’ve seen over the years, basketball shoes can be quite expensive. Especially if you are looking for a solid pair that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also offers solid performance.
Many of the basketball shoes within the $100 or below are often lacking. While you can always get a pair within this range, you can never get premium shoes.
With $150, you can get plenty of reliable and premium shoes that you can use for special games. The great thing is that there are plenty of quality and reliable basketball shoes under $150 shoes that you can always pick from.
Many of the basketball shoes within this price range are premium/high-end basketball shoes consisting mostly of recent releases and signature silhouettes. If you are low on cash or looking for a pair for practice, then you can always check out any of these basketball shoes for under $50.
That said, what are some of the things that you should consider when shopping for basketball shoes under $150?
Things to Consider
Durability
Before spending your hard-earned cash on basketball shoes, it is important to consider the durability of the pair. If you enjoy playing outdoors, then you should go for a pair that can withstand the demands placed on the shoes.
Basketball shoes with a thick rubber outsole and plenty of traction will definitely come in handy.
If you enjoy playing indoors, then you should pick a pair that is best suited for indoor play. Basketball shoes like the Harden Vol 3 and the D Rose 11 are perfect for playing or rough surfaces.
If you are going to spend most of your time outdoors, then you should settle for a pair that will withstand outdoor play. Some of the best outdoor basketball shoes under $150 include the Nike KD Trey 5 VII and Adidas Dame 7.
Comfort/ Cushioning
Apart from durability, another thing that you should keep in mind is comfort. Uncomfortable shoes often serve as a distraction, in the process affecting the way we play the game.
In addition, uncomfortable shoes will often place unnecessary pressure on our feet and ankles, which can lead to injuries. Thus, it is important to always go for a pair that fits perfectly and comes with plenty of cushioning.
Traction
According to Nike, the grip and traction of basketball shoes can either break or make its overall performance on the court. The rubber composition, design pattern, surface ratio, and surface type all affect the performance of basketball shoes.
Good traction often prevents slipping and falling, in the process averting injuries.
When basketball courts have plenty of dust, they can interfere with the traction of given shoes. Thus, it is important to always go for a pair that suits the court surface type that you love playing on.
As mentioned earlier, if you love indoors, then you should get a pair specifically designed for indoors and vice versa.
Support
When playing basketball, we are often prone to injuries with ankle injuries being the most common. Getting the best ankle-support basketball shoes will go a long way in preventing these types of injuries and so much more.
Technically, an ideal pair should prevent players from sustaining ankle and foot injuries by offering support to the ankles and mid-foot.
When playing, we often move in different directions and ways. Thus, it is important to always go for a pair that offers plenty of ankle support, especially if you happen to be an explosive player or a big man.
Best Basketball Shoes Under $150
1. Nike KD 13-Best Overall: 9/10
The Nike KD 13 is a solid basketball shoe that comes with one of the best cushioning setups in the market. Designed with a Zoom Strobel system and a forefoot zoom unit, the Nike KD 13 offers maximum comfortability while giving the player a bouncy feeling.
The traction on this pair is also superb as the shoe comes with a rubber outsole. Featuring nubs and circular cups, the Nike KD 13 not only picks up little dust but also sticks well on the court.
The traction is solid in both indoor and outdoor courts. The Nike KD 13 also comes with a foam-based insole that will conform to your feet perfectly.
While the rip-stop style and textile materials used on the KD 13 are of exceptional quality, they do not feel as premium as they should since this pair goes for over $100.
Like all the previous installments, the Nike KD 13 comes with narrow sides, making this pair unsuitable for players with wide feet. If you have wide feet and want to still get the Nike KD 13, then you should settle for a pair that is half a size bigger, or check out our best basketball shoes for players with wide feet list.
Thanks to its wide base, the Nike KD 13 will offer you plenty of support. When looking at the weight, the Nike KD 13 is light in weight. The only caveat with the Nike KD 13 is the choice of material.
Unlike many of the previous installments, the Nike KD 13 does not come with a containment cage.
While the material feels somewhat premium, longevity can be an issue with this pair. Other than that, the Nike KD 13 is a solid basketball shoe that should definitely be reserved for tournaments and special occasions.
Our Ratings
- Durability: 10/10
- Comfort: 9/10
- Material: 8.5/10
- Traction: 8.5/10
- Support: 8/10
| Pros | Cons |
| Offers maximum comfortability | Not suitable for players with wide feet |
| Ideal for both indoor and outdoor courts | Materials do not feel premium, |
| Plenty of support because of the wide base | |
| Highly durable | |
2. Nike Kyrie 7-8.5/10
Considered to be one of the best shoes in Kyrie’s signature line, the Nike Kyrie 7 is a high-performing basketball shoe that is suitable for players who love to make plenty of cuts and shifts. Sporting a Zoom Turbo Unit at the forefront, the Nike Kyrie 7 is not only responsive but also bouncy and offers a great court feel and impact protection.
Unlike its predecessor, the Kyrie 6, the materials used on the Nike Kyrie 7 are minimal. However, the full mesh upper might feel somewhat stiffy at first.
The Nike Kyrie 7 also lacks the forefront strap that was present on the Kyrie 6. However, the introduction of the TPU fins goes a long way in ensuring that the support on this pair is great, offering stability, lateral containment, and ankle support.
Just like the KD 13, the Kyrie 7s are light in weight making them suitable for players who are looking for mobility in games. True to size, the Kyrie 7s offers a perfect fit.
If you are looking for a looser fitting, then you can always go 1/2 a size up.
The traction pattern on the Nike Kyrie 7 is evenly spread out offering a decent bite and grip. If you are going to play on dusty courts, then you will constantly have to wipe the outsole.
Moreover, the durability of this pair when it comes to outdoor play is somewhat questionable. Personally, I won’t get this pair for outdoor play.
Overall, looking at the comfort, fit and support, it’s clear to see why the Kyrie 7 is one of the best basketball shoes under $150.
Our Ratings
- Durability: 10/10
- Comfort: 9/10
- Traction: 8/10
- Support: 9/10
| Pros | Cons |
| Great support | Not suitable for outdoor play |
| Offers a great court feel | |
| Lightweight materials | |
| True to size |
3. Under Armour Curry 6-7.5/10
If you are a guard who is looking for supportive and lightweight basketball shoes, then you should consider the Under-Armor Curry 6. Built with a full-length HOVR unit, the Under-Armor Curry 6 offers a great court feel and superior impact protection.
Like all the previous installments, the support and stability offered by the Under-Armor Curry 6 is superb. All these aspects make the Under-Armor Curry 6 ideal for step-backs and cross-overs.
Designed with a durable outsole with circular traction patterns, the Under-Armor Curry 6 performs sticks well on clean basketball courts.
If you love playing on dusty courts, then you might have to wipe constantly the rubber outsole. Because the Under-Armor Curry 6 uses full-knit materials for the uppers, you will need very little time to break in into these silhouettes.
Overall durability might be an issue with this pair as it tends to break right at the midsole over time, especially when used in outdoor courts. The rubber outsole will definitely take a beating over time.
Overall, the Under-Armor Curry 6 is a lightweight and highly supportive basketball shoe that offers a great court feel. It is important to note that the price may fluctuate from one store to the other on Amazon.
Our Ratings
- Durability: 6.5/10
- Material: 7/10
- Comfort: 8.5/10
- Traction: 8.5/10
- Support: 8/10
| Pros | Cons |
| Superb stability, support, and impact protection | Durability issues with the uppers and midsole |
| Great responsiveness and court feel | |
| Little break-in time | |
| Durable outsole |
4. Nike PG 5-7.0/10
An all-around high-performance basketball shoe, the Nike PG 5 is Paul George’s 5 signature shoe and arguably one of the best basketball shoes under $150. Sporting a similar traction pattern to that of the critically acclaimed Kobe 9, the PG 5 offers solid traction and wider coverage.
Because of the superior traction pattern and solid rubber outsole, you can use the Nike PG 5 in both indoor and outdoor courts. Besides the solid traction, the Nike PG 5 also comes with the Air Strobel cushioning, which offers superior impact protection.
As expected, the materials on the Nike PG 5 are like the materials used in previous installments. While they might feel cheap, they do perform well.
True to size, the Nike PG 5 might be slightly narrow but does offer a snug feel.
Because of the wide base, the lockdown and support are quite impressive. If you are looking for a reliable basketball shoe that comes with great cushioning and is an all-rounder, then you should consider the Nike PG 5.
Our Ratings
- Durability: 7/10
- Comfort: 8/10
- Traction: 7/10
- Support
| Pros | Cons |
| Solid traction | Not suitable for players with wide feet |
| Durable rubber outsole | Not ideal for outdoors |
| True to size | |
| Great cushioning |
5. DON Issue #2-Low Budget Option: 7.0/10
The Adidas Don Issue #2 is a great follow-up to the highly successful Adidas Don Issue #1. Sporting a similar hip design, the Don Issue #2 comes with a great cushioning set-up and a highly impressive build. Like the 1st installment, the Don Issue #2 comes with a Bounce cushioning set-up that is not only responsive but also quite bouncy and will always protect you from impact.
Although the materials used to design the cushion set-up is not as rubbery and plush as most high-end basketball shoes in the market, you will still get to enjoy a solid court feel at the forefoot.
While the materials used to design the uppers are thick and highly durable, they felt sort of bulky. They are quite comfortable on their feet. The Don Issue #2 also comes with a spiderweb-inspired traction set-up that offers a solid bite only on clean indoor courts.
You might encounter challenges with the traction when playing on dusty courts. Overall, the Don Issue #2 is a solid low-budget shoe that is ideal for players who are looking for great basketball shoes with great impact protection.
Our Ratings
- Durability: 10/10
- Comfort: 9/10
- Traction: 6.5/10
- Support: 7/10
| Pros | Cons |
| Great cushioning set-up | Poor traction on dusty courts |
| Solid court feel at the forefoot | |
| Highly durable materials | |
| Low budget option |
Final Thoughts
These shoes offer great ability on and off the court. However, if you need to increase your price range, check out our article detailing the best basketball shoes under $200. Alternatively, if you’re looking for basketball shoes on the cheaper side. We have an article showing the best shoes under $100.
