This NBA season has been full of some incredible moments that not even Hollywood’s best writers could have scripted. We’ve seen multiple players score over 70 points, a G-League player revive the Dunk Contest, and even the New York Knicks string together a double-digit winning streak. Is this real life?
As the NBA regular season enters the home stretch and we prepare for the playoffs, we wanted to zero in on something a bit more specific about one of our favorite games. There’s an incredible amount of signature sneakers being laced up on the court every night. The question is, whose is the best?
Scrolling through this list makes it clear that we are in a transitional period for the NBA. You will still see veterans like LeBron James and Kevin Durant highlighted here, but they’re mixed in with some of the biggest stars of the next generation like Jayson Tatum or LaMelo Ball.
To be clear, this isn’t a performance ranking. Some of us haven’t played in any of them. But we’re not reviewing the shoes based strictly on their performance benefits. This ranking is based on factors like design, on-court moments, player significance, and brand storytelling around the shoes through colorways and marketing.
Take a look at our top 10 list below.
11.
This NBA season has been full of some incredible moments that not even Hollywood’s best writers could have scripted. We’ve seen multiple players score over 70 points, a G-League player revive the Dunk Contest, and even the New York Knicks string together a double-digit winning streak. Is this real life?
As the NBA regular season enters the home stretch and we prepare for the playoffs, we wanted to zero in on something a bit more specific about one of our favorite games. There’s an incredible amount of signature sneakers being laced up on the court every night. The question is, whose is the best?
Scrolling through this list makes it clear that we are in a transitional period for the NBA. You will still see veterans like LeBron James and Kevin Durant highlighted here, but they’re mixed in with some of the biggest stars of the next generation like Jayson Tatum or LaMelo Ball.
To be clear, this isn’t a performance ranking. Some of us haven’t played in any of them. But we’re not reviewing the shoes based strictly on their performance benefits. This ranking is based on factors like design, on-court moments, player significance, and brand storytelling around the shoes through colorways and marketing.
Take a look at our top 10 list below.
10.Nike PG 6
Worn by: Paul George
Paul George’s signature Nike line looks to be finished for the time being, with the Swoosh opting to quietly phase out the NBA veteran’s PG range. Despite ending somewhat unceremoniously, the PG line went out with a bang, releasing in over a dozen colorways throughout its yearlong run. Designed by Tony Hardman, who worked on the entirety of the Paul George signature line, the PG 6 included a collaboration with Hot Wheels, an on-trend “Painted Swoosh” makeup with a tie-dye effect, and a mash-up “What the” colorway to send the sneaker off in style. Nothing lasts forever, but the PG line made enough of an impact while it was here that people will remember it fondly for years to come. —Riley Jones
9.New Balance Kawhi 3
Worn by: Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers are continuing their push toward the postseason with the addition of veteran guard Russell Westbrook, but that’s not the only thing different in Los Angeles. Leonard also just got a brand-new sneaker, the New Balance Kawhi 3. Released just under a year after his previous model, the Kawhi 3 retains the FuelCell foam cushioning used on Leonard’s prior sneakers, but the upper has been given an overhaul. It uses a seamless build at the heel and tongue combined with a knit base and a synthetic overlay covered in a reptile-esque texture. Leonard’s “claw” nickname is seemingly referenced on the outsole, which New Balance likens to the talons of the gyrfalcon bird. And at the midsole’s midsection, right around the spot where New Balance’s Energy Arc carbon fiber plate is housed, the Kawhi 3’s signature sneaker status is on full display with an etching of Leonard’s autograph. All in all, the Kawhi 3 earns points for sticking with what works while also changing things up enough to feel fresh. —Riley Jones
8.Jordan Why Not .6
Worn by: Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook is still in Los Angeles but on a different team. The now-Clippers point guard is on the sixth version of his signature sneaker with Jordan and the shoe has some new features not included on his shoes in the past. First off, the sneaker is very reminiscent of Gary Payton’s signature shoe with Nike, Zoom Flight 98 aka The Glove from 1998, with its shroud-like, zip-up upper. The midsole also echoes another shoe from the same time period, but from a different brand. There’s shreds of DNA from the Adidas Top Ten 2000 at play here, too, if you look close enough. It’s been some years since there was a true buzz behind Westbrook’s sneakers, when his PE editions felt truly special, like making a Super Soaker–themed shoe for Black History Month. But the sneakers are still serviceable. —Matt Welty
7.Puma MB.02
Worn by: LaMelo Ball
Last year, LaMelo Ball and Puma put the basketball signature sneaker world on notice with the introduction of the MB.01. It quickly became one of the most popular basketball sneakers out there thanks in large part to a collaboration with Rick and Morty. To follow that up, Puma and the youngest Ball brother created an equally strong offering in the MB.02. Backed by yet another collaboration with Ball’s favorite adult cartoon, the MB.02 boasts a flame pattern on its medial paneling, already lending itself to a number of intriguing colorways early on in its life. Ranging from $130 to $150 USD, it sits right in the middle of the signature shoe market and offers up a comfortable on-court ride. —Ben Felderstein
6.Nike Zoom Freak 4
Worn by: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Nike line is still on the younger side in comparison to much of the brand’s signature roster, but it’s been consistently strong in its short existence. In fact, we listed his Nike Freak 3 as the number one sneaker in our previous signature rankings.
This season’s edition, the Freak 4, takes an evolutionary path rather than revolutionary, utilizing a largely similar midsole in terms of construction and technology. That often results in a more refined product, and that holds true here. It loses the strap of its predecessor, utilizing the Swoosh as a midfoot support element instead.
The backward Swoosh has become somewhat of an expected design element for the line, prominently appearing on three of his four models, so far. The large logo doesn’t flow quite as eloquently here as it did on the Freak 1, but at least it’s functional by cutting down on the complexity of the 3’s strap system without sacrificing stability.
Thanks to the Bucks’ strong season—they have the best record in the NBA at the time of this writing—the shoe is in a position where a big playoff run could add to the model’s allure moving forward. —Zac Dubasik
5.Jordan Tatum 1
Worn by: Jayson Tatum
Is it his shoe or isn’t it his shoe? That’s the controversy that swirled around Jayson Tatum’s first signature sneaker with Jordan Brand when it first leaked on the internet. In a press conference, Tatum alluded to the early version of the shoe not being real but that we’d all see the true version of it “very, very soon.” It ended up being it, but it looks much better. Almost all early product scans/samples of shoes don’t look great, and Tatum’s Jordan’s were no different. So you can’t blame him for that. The sneaker is set to be a budget-friendly basketball sneaker for Jordan Brand, clocking in at $120. That will hopefully fill a void left by Kyrie Irving being dropped by Nike in the sneaker market. The shoe’s mid-cut height and strong design language, including a plastic piece on the midsole that transfers up to the upper, will likely make it a favorite with hoopers and fans of Tatum. And with the Boston Celtics poised to make another deep run this year, the shoe will likely sell more. —Matt Welty
4.Nike KD 15
Worn by: Kevin Durant
When Kevin Durant and Nike introduced the KD 15 in spring 2022, they couldn’t have possibly imagined how different KD’s NBA career would’ve turned out fewer than 12 months later. Durant, who was putting up MVP-caliber numbers before suffering a knee injury in January, was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns last month. The KD 15 is the second model in Durant’s signature line that was designed by Nike Basketball’s senior footwear designer Ben Nethongkome, who was also responsible for designing Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant’s Ja 1. During Durant’s time with the Nets, he has laced up a handful of noteworthy KD 15 colorways that will likely never see the light of day at retail, but they did bring some allure to the sneaker as a whole. Some of the styles included an Off-White x Nike Presto–inspired makeup, a Penny 1–inspired pair, and a bevy of PEs made for various Nike-affiliated colleges. And if the Suns do end up winning the NBA title this year, it will easily elevate the KD 15 to becoming one of Durant’s most memorable models in his signature line. —Victor Deng
3.Jordan Luka 1
Worn by: Luka Dončić
Luka Dončić is one of the brightest young stars in the NBA. Fittingly, he has already been rewarded with his own signature line. The Luka 1 is a sleek low-top design that implements tech like an IsoPlate foot frame, sustainable performance foam called Formula 23, and Flight Wire cables layered atop the lateral portion of the upper for additional lockdown. It’s also relatively affordable with a retail price of just $110. However, the Luka 1 sort of feels like it’s flown under the radar a bit due to a lack of memorable colorways or collaborative projects to get people talking. But that isn’t to say it hasn’t had some cool moments, like a special PE colorway created for Mavs head coach Jason Kidd inspired by his cult classic Air Zoom Flight 95s. Above all, Dončić’s stellar play makes the Luka 1 an enticing model. Along with Jayson Tatum and Zion Williamson (if he can stay healthy), Dončić is helping Jordan Brand solidify itself in the next era of the NBA. The Luka 1 is an excellent starting point for Dončić’s signature line that has us excited to see what the brand has cooked up for the sequel. And if the new-look Mavs featuring Kyrie Irving can make some noise in the playoffs, expect that hype to only increase in the future. —Mike DeStefano
2.Nike Ja 1
Worn by: Ja Morant
The Nike Ja 1 has a lot going for it. It’s the namesake sneaker of one of the game’s most exciting players, Ja Morant, who’s also Nike Basketball’s first Gen Z signature athlete. It’s designed by one of the category’s top designers, Ben Nethongkome, who adds both performance expertise and aesthetic direction. It comes in a variety of colorways, many of which are already catching on with young and older fans alike. There’s a $400 Swarovski-encrusted “Midnight” pair inspired both by Morant’s love for jewelry and his late-night work ethic, as well as a nostalgic “Scratch” colorway that references the Vancouver Grizzlies’ teal uniforms. But the shoe’s strongest selling point may be its price. Retailing for $110 (Swarovski version aside), the Ja 1 is the most affordable signature sneaker in Nike Basketball’s lineup, making the shoe an accessible option for those looking to channel one of the NBA’s top names. In a market where $200 footwear has become the norm, creating a high-performing model that also looks good and doesn’t break the bank is a feat in and of itself.
Morant’s recent headlines have surely complicated the rollout, but Nike has made it clear it’s standing by him while he steps away from the court.
“We appreciate Ja’s accountability and that he is taking the time to get the help he needs. We support his prioritization of his well-being,” the brand said in a March 4 statement. —Riley Jones
1.Nike LeBron 20
Worn by: LeBron James
Sure, it’s cliche. But the LeBron 20 is a sneaker fit for a king. The reputation of the 20 is certainly aided by the fact that James actually wears it when he’s on the court this season. Throughout his career, he has never shied away from switching to another model if his new one doesn’t quite live up to his performance standards. But that hasn’t been the case for the LeBron 20. While we still aren’t back to a point where new basketball sneakers cross over into the lifestyle space with great frequency, we have some great lifestyle-leaning colorways of the LeBron 20 that incorporate materials like bubblegum pink tumbled leather or olive green suede. Nike even tried to borrow some pieces from the Travis Scott playbook for its All-Star release, which featured a reverse Swoosh. And, of course, we cannot forget the accolades being accomplished by the man himself while he’s wearing them. LeBron broke the all-time NBA regular season points record earlier this season with a pair of 20s on his feet. If there’s one knock on the LeBron 20, it would have to be the price point. Sitting at $200, there are plenty of more affordable, high-performing pairs on the market that could steer away even the most die-hard LeBron fans.
Getting to say you have had 20 installments in your signature line (and don’t forget about all of the Lows, Soldiers, and Ambassadors, and other subsidiary lines) is no small feat. Thankfully, Jason Petrie understood the assignment and cooked up something memorable to mark the occasion. —Mike DeStefano