7 Best Low Top Nike Basketball Shoes in 2024

The LeBron 21 and its incredibly solid structure have won RunRepeat’s gold in our best overall low-top basketball shoes category. This model’s supportive design and high-quality materials have proved its worth during our lab and wear tests.

First off, it has a lot of padding in the heel area. It wasn’t only in our lab when we cut it in half that we saw it, but also in our lateral stability test. We moved our ankles from side to side, but the 21’s supportive structure kept a snug fit around those joints.

In our lab, we performed the torsional rigidity and heel counter stiffness tests with our own hands. We tried to bend and twist the shoe, but it didn’t give in at all. It earned two solid 5/5 in both of these tests, which is the highest score and, consequently, the stiffest a model can be.

The containment and surefootedness this model offers work hand-in-hand with its overall rigid nature. But in our flex test, where we bent it up to 90 degrees, our gauge returned 43.1N, which is only 6% stiffer than average. During our playtests, this translated into its whole structure bending alongside the ball of the foot when we pivoted or went for fakes.

This snug and locked-in fit hugging our ankles brought some blisters with it. The LB 21 requires a long and rough break-in period. If you’re looking for something that’s comfortable off the bat, this one might be a pass.

After many hours hooping with the KD 17 and performing tests on it in our lab, we’ve decided to give it the title of the Nike low-top basketball shoe with the best traction. The wonderful performance of its outsole left us in awe after biting on every single surface we played on!

It features a wavy pattern very similar to the isobars of a weather map. These undulating lines offered us consistent traction throughout our games. Even if the court was dusty, its grip levels didn't even flinch. The best part is that the rubber compound offers this top-tier traction without being too soft. At 87.1 HC, our durometer indicated it's harder than average.

Consequently, it aced our Dremel test after ending up with a dent of only 0.9 mm. Our tread gauge knows it well, it's a score lower than average, which proves the material is durable. To improve even more the safety feel, this Nike shoe features a solid structure that offers great containment, as it scored a 4/5 on both our heel counter stiffness and torsional rigidity tests.

However, despite having a durable outsole, the KD 17 lacks upper durability. It scored a 3/5 on our toebox Dremel test, which means the material in that area is less durable than average.

In RunRepeat, we don't simply take the shoes to our lab and cut them into two to analyze them. We also wear-test every single pair! After many hours studying the G.T. Hustle 3, our data and experience have made us give it the title of the low-top Nike basketball shoe with the best cushioning.

It all starts with its midsole. At 32.8/26.8 mm on the heel and forefoot respectively, our caliper indicated it's way higher than average. Apart from being away from the harshness of the court whenever we landed, our feet also enjoyed the two Zoom Units this shoe features in the forefoot. They offered great energy return and a soft base to land on.

These kicks also feature a fantastic 8.2 mm insole. It's a solid 44% thicker than average, which translated into an incredibly comfortable ride on indoor and outdoor courts. Last but not least, a midfoot shank keeps this tall structure in place, offering some extra pop and support.

Nevertheless, as the impact protection of the G.T. Hustle 3 is superb thanks to its cushioning, feeling the court under the feet is not something that should be expected from it.

Our wear and lab tests have demonstrated the G.T. Cut 3 deserves its hard-earned "best agility" title among the Nike low-top basketball shoes. Its exceptionally light and nimble structure, alongside the technologies of its midsole, made our choice pretty easy.

When we put this Nike shoe on our scale, it returned 11.8 oz/335 g, which is a crazy low weight. This featherlike feeling in our feet translated into quick footwork during our games, which was favored by the plush ZoomX. This foam provided us with amazing energy return and very explosive toe-offs, which contributed to our fast-paced playstyle.

The midsole protected us from the constant impacts, offering great court feel. At 27.0/21.5 mm on the heel and forefoot stacks, we felt closer to the court and in control of our moves, which enhanced our precision despite the speed. The cherry on top was the amazing grip this Nike pair offered on clean courts, so we didn't slip even if we went for aggressive cuts.

The only problem here is that this agile shoe has an upper that, despite being durable, lacks the expected support for quick cuts.

It’s typical for low-tops to be on the lighter side, so they have to deliver more on the other aspects to make an impression. And this is exactly what the Zoom Freak 4 did. Aside from being light, it also amped up on support and stability. It also offered a nice balance of court feel and impact protection. Given these benefits, we saw it fit to give the Nike Zoom Freak 4 the title of being the best lightweight shoe in Nike’s low-top arsenal.

Specifically speaking, the Zoom Freak 4 is 1.4 (39g) oz lighter than average. This reduction in weight resulted in more confident sprints and more effective jumps, especially for rebounds and blocks.

Lockdown, shall we say, was among the most important highlights of the shoe. Aside from a fully gusseted tongue, this shoe also had a firm heel counter. After squeezing and twisting it in the lab, the heel counter got a score of 4 out of 5 for rigidity. These features helped in keeping our feet in place, even as our movements became a little too aggressive.

According to readings on our HA durometer, the midsole has a softness score of 27.0, which clearly is just around the 27.9 average. Indeed, the midsole was not too firm and not too plush either. We appreciated the balance that we felt while wearing this shoe.

Based on what our digital force gauge showed us, this shoe bent at 90 degrees when 54.0N of force was applied. It’s far more rigid than the average hoop shoe, which needs only 41.9N. Given this much rigidity, the shoe does not flex naturally with our feet as much as we'd like.

Aside from being affordable, the Nike Ja 1 is best for beginners because it is lightweight, flexible, and offers just the right amount of impact protection and responsiveness in the midsole. Truly, this mix of benefits provides a good introduction to the world of basketball.

Weighing only 12.73 ounces or 361 grams, this shoe is indeed lighter than average (14.22 oz or 403g). This allows beginners to adjust quite easily to the demands of the sport, which is quite intensive on running, jumping, and quick direction changes.

The flexibility of the Ja 1 allowed our feet to move much more naturally. In our lab assessments, we learned why. It only took 34.7N of force to bend this shoe at 90 degrees. An average shoe would need 40.9N.

As per our HA durometer, the midsole has a softness rating of 26.5 which is practically equal to the 26.6 average. This averageness gave us the right balance of compression and firmness, which translated to a more natural ride.

We just have to take note here that this shoe is not the best for outdoor games. After Dremel-drilling the outsole, the resulting dent is 1.6 mm deep, which is deeper than the 1.1 mm average.

Based on our games and lab tests, we've found the Precision 7 is the best budget pair among Nike low-cost basketball shoes. Its wonderfully crafted design makes it an all-rounder that doesn't feel like an economical hooper at all!

For a start, its upper offers a healthy mix of top-tier breathability and high-quality durability, as it scored a perfect 5/5 on both our breathability and toebox durability tests. Despite the toughness of the recycled materials it features, this Nike has an incredibly lightweight design. According to our scale, it stands at a feathery 11.61 oz/329g!

Its balanced upper comes with a grippy and durable outsole. Our caliper returned 4.4 mm when we measured the outsole thickness, which means there's enough material to withstand the abrasion of harsh courts. The best part is that our Dremel could only eliminate 0.9 mm of this rubber compound, making it more durable than average.

However, at 27.3/20.9 mm, the Precision 7's midsole stack is neither high enough nor does it have the technologies to offer proper impact protection. Even though it doesn't feel like it, it's a budget shoe after all.