4 Best Jordan Basketball Shoes in 2024

The Air Jordan XXXVIII is a top performer that excels in most categories. After thoroughly testing it in both our lab and the court, we can confidently say it deserves the throne as the best Jordan basketball shoe overall.

During our playtests, we felt this hooper adapted to different playstyles thanks to its premium design. Its solid mid-top structure proved its effectiveness in our lateral stability test, giving our ankles a snug and locked-in fit. It also scored the highest punctuation in our torsional rigidity and heel counter stiffness tests (5/5), proving its worth as a wonderfully supportive pair.

Its premium design comes with premium materials, which give these Jordans top-notch durability. In our Dremel tests, the heel counter and upper outperformed the average with their scores: 4/5 and 5/5, respectively.

The best part is that its structured nature doesn’t come with extra weight. Our scale marked 13.9 oz/394g, which is average, and this mid-top model felt quite light on our feet. The most surprising part was when we cut it in half in our lab and saw a full-length Cushlon 3.0 foam and a Zoom Air Strobel on top of it. This also didn’t add any weight, and it was incredibly comfortable and quite bouncy. Additionally, the carrier foam made sure our feet were stable during our games.

Nevertheless, at 4.0 mm, our caliper indicated the AJ XXXVIII’s outsole is not thick enough for streetball. Additionally, its non-aggressive pattern might wear out sooner than expected, losing wearability and traction.

After hours and hours of tests inside and outside our lab, trying the shoes on our own feet, we can assure you that the Luka 3 is the Jordan pair with the best stability. Its traction, support, midsole, and IsoPlate all work together to make this happen.

At 20.9 mm both in the heel and in the forefoot, this shoe's midsole is lower than average, which equals more stability. A spacious base means stable landings, and the Luka 3 is also wider than average: our caliper returned 117.3 mm when we measured the width of the forefoot.

Apart from that, this Jordan's materials are pretty tough, as the shoe scored a solid 5/5 on our heel counter and torsional rigidity tests. Part of this is thanks to the IsoPlate, which is a framing structure located on the outer side of the shoe. In other words, this shoe is well structured and great at ankle protection.

Nevertheless, even though it offers great traction that held us in place during our wear tests, it's not the best for streetball. Its materials are not the best to fight the abrasion of such sport, so we wouldn't recommend it.

After many hours of research, our feet and our lab results finally reached an agreement: the Tatum 2 is our king among the Jordan basketball shoes when it comes to the best court feel. We closely and thoroughly analysed its sole, checking its performance during our wear tests and cutting the shoe in half.

Our caliper measured a heel stack of 26.6 mm, which is 10% lower than average. But we wanted to know more, so we moved our tool up to the forefoot, where it marked 22.2 mm. Being this close to the court allowed our feet to perform more precise moves, and we felt more in control during our playtests. This translated into us trying more complex dribbles, which suits forwards’ (like Tatum himself) and guards’ typical playstyles.

A minimal drop of 4.4 mm was the cherry on top. As this Jordan’s base is incredibly leveled, our feet were almost flat on the floor, which allowed us to get the maximum response from the court. When we measured the stack height, we included the incredibly comfortable full-length Air Stroble, which improves cushioning; and the shoe's 3.1 mm thin but fairly durable outsole.

Nevertheless, this model’s flat feel might not be ideal for centres and/or big players, who might need a more cushioned and bouncy midsole.

The Zions are back and ready to absolutely break with everything you had seen before in their line! This third iteration features a reinforced and durable upper that offers a snug fit and a wonderful lockdown feel. This surefootedness also comes from all the padding it has, as well as from its magnificent ankle support. Our surprise when we were testing this Jordan pair was not only the sole flare in the forefoot, but also in the midfoot! We felt incredibly stable when we landed, and the big Zoom Air unit located in the ball of the foot provided us with some bounce every time we went for a quick move. The only drawback here is that such a close-to-the-foot structure and solid upper mean that wide-foot hoopers will most likely feel uncomfortable and cramped in the Zion 3.