The Best Sneakers in NBA History

Throughout history, no other professional league has offered the greatest versatility associated with the connection between the players and the fans than the NBA. Several companies made fortunes on marketing. Nike sneakers and Adidas basketball shoes marked the whole era of the strongest and by far the most popular basketball league on the planet. This time we won’t talk about someone’s average points, rebounds, or assists per season. We will discuss the best sneakers in NBA history instead.

Stay tuned and enjoy the top-ten list of the coolest basketball shoes ever – an entertaining piece for those who are not only into NBA picks but also takes interest in the fashion details.

It was hard to create the list of the best basketball shoes with hundreds of genuine candidates, but we mainly referred to the popularity. Without further ado, let’s jump onto the list of the best sneakers in NBA history.  

10 – Nike Zoom Flight 95 – Jason Kidd

We can’t imagine the list of the best sneakers in NBA history without Nike Zoom Flight 95s. This specific version was worn by the vast majority of highly popular guards across the competition. However, it was Jason Kidd who gave them the greatest significance and a place among the best basketball player shoes in NBA history. 

9 – Nike Air Zoom GP – Gary Payton

Gary left an enormous mark on the league’s history. He has worn some extraordinary shoes in the process, but none were as beautiful as Nike Air Zoom GP. Despite the buckle clicking strap (not preferred by everyone), the heat-molded construction did enough to earn them a place among the coolest basketball shoes in NBA history. 

8 – Nike Air Max Penny – Anfernee Hardaway

Penny just had the feeling for retro sneakers and he probably had the collection of the coolest basketball shoes after Michael Jordan himself.  Penny has always been faithful to Nike. The Air Max Penny version ranks sky-high in both quality and design.  

7 – Air Jordan I – Michael Jordan

We decided to give the maiden version of by far the best basketball shoes in NBA history only the seventh place in our list only because the legend has worn even better shoes later in his career. Of course, the edition that started it all will always be special and not a single list of the best sneakers in NBA history could exist without them there. 

6 – Reebok Pump Omni – Dominique Wilkins

Reebok should always be grateful to Dominique Wilkins and Dee Brown for putting them on the map and earning them a spot among the best sneakers in history. Both men won the All-Star Dunk contests while wearing them as the kids from all over the globe went crazy for the Pumps. A well-deserved place in the list of the best sneakers in NBA history. 

5 – Air Jordan IV – Michael Jordan

We return to the best basketball player ever right away. Michael Jordan wore the IV’s on the eve of the Chicago Bulls’ golden ages. This model is particularly significant as the “Flight” logo has been added to the Jordan’s for the first time just on the IV’s. It became the trademark symbol of the best sneakers in NBA. 

4 – Nike Flightposite – Numerous stars

Many people would exclude Nike Flightposite from the list of the best sneakers, but we gave them a sky-high 4^th place. It is because the kids went completely crazy for them in 2008. We have rarely seen such a massive interest in any of the aforementioned best sneakers in NBA history. The futuristic design certainly had a lot to do with it. 

3 – Foamposite One – Anfernee Hardaway

The top-three spots in the list of the best sneakers in NBA history can only be completed with the names of Penny Hardaway and Michael Jordan. The space-age futuristic design made the Foamposite One one of the most expensive Nike sneakers ever.  

2 – Air Jordan III – Michael Jordan

There is so much to say about the second-ranked shoe on the list of the best sneakers in NBA history. Michael Jordan wore the III’s when he defeated Dominique Wilkins in the 1988 dunk contest. Among numerous other reasons for such a high rank in the list of the best sneakers in NBA history, we have to underline the “Jumpman logo” and the elephant print. 

1 – Air Jordan XI – Michael Jordan

The best sneakers in NBA history were born when Michael Jordan decided to return from a two-year retirement in the 1995/96 season. The XI’s are just special in every possible way. They broke all records and still deservedly take the very top spot in almost all lists of the best sneakers in NBA history.