There are a lot of different things to consider when choosing a pair of basketball shoes. Brands release a myriad of different models every year, and they all have different performance features for different playing styles. So, a good way of finding basketball shoes that will work for you is by sorting through shoes that were designed to cater to your position on the court. To that end, in this article, we will go over the best basketball shoes for shooting guards.
Shooting guards usually share a lot of characteristics with point guards, with the peculiarity that they play off-ball. Basketball shoes for shooting guards will therefore have great traction to get you around screens and stop on a dime to get into your shot, a supportive upper to withstand changes of speed and direction, and responsive cushioning with a little extra impact protection, particularly in the heel.
With all this in mind, we have sifted through the hundreds of models we test each season and picked out the top sneaker models that excel in these aspects. So, with all that being said, let’s get right into the best basketball shoes for shooting guards.
We’ve already listed the best basketball shoes for point guards, the best basketball shoes for small forwards, the best basketball shoes for centers, and the best basketball shoes for power forwards. Now we’re going to dive into the best basketball shoes for shooting guards. I you are just looking for the best all-around basketball shoe, you can check out that list as well.
Updated: 08.26.2024
Best Basketball Shoes for Shooting Guards Show
Best Basketball Shoes for Shooting Guards Overall 2024
Best Basketball Shoe for Shooting Guards 2024
adidas AE 1
adidas has been having a bit of a resurgence in the performance basketball market. The Harden Vol 7 was fantastic, the Trae Young 3 was very solid, and now we have the AE 1, Anthony Edwards’ first signature shoe, and, it is a top-tier performance basketball shoe and one of the best first signature shoes we have ever seen. The AE 1 might end up being the best overall basketball shoe of 2024, but even if it doesn’t end up at that level, it’s an excellent basketball shoe and easily one of the best adidas basketball shoes you can buy. Read full review. Price $120.
Way of Wade 11
The Way of Wade 11 is another impressive flagship model from Way of Wade and an improvement on an already great model in the Way of Wade 10. With the Way of Wade 11 you’ll be getting reliable traction with a unique, story-driven outsole design that promises to excel indoors. You’ll also get exceptional responsiveness and stability from the full-length Boom midsole and EVA foot frame carrier and a much-improved material setup. Stability and lockdown should also be great and that “customized” carbon fiber shank plate will be elite. This is the best-looking and feeling Way of Wade model to date. Read full review. Price: $225
Nike LeBron 21
The Nike LeBron 21 promises to be a beast on court. It can be described as a remix of the Nike LeBron 20, and that shoe was amazing, in particular, it is amazing for versatile positions like Shooting Guard. The cushioning traction and lockdown make it an excellent choice for gurds. Barring any unfortunate surprises, this will be one of the top models this year, one of the most universal, and one of the most comfortable on court, as well as an attainable Kobe substitute. Read the full review. Price: $200
Under Armour Curry 12
The Curry 12 is currently the best Curry basketball shoe hands down. With this shoe, you are getting everything you have come to know and love from Curry’s signature shoes with better cushioning and better traction. Under Armour was able to achieve this impressive result by paying attention to the actual science that goes into designing performance footwear and making a small adjustment.
But the story doesn’t end there. This small but critical change also makes this shoe accessible to a much wider audience than any other Curry of the past, as this shoe will suit the on-court requirements of a wider range of hoopers. Read the full review. Price: $140
adidas AE 1 Low
To keep things short and sweet, the adidas AE 1 Mid is an excellent shoe (one of the best of the year in fact) and the AE 1 Low is slightly better in almost every way. Although the AE 1 Low looks similar to the originals, this is a very different basketball shoe and a better one at that. Not only is it better, it’s cheaper. The first AE 1 retailed for $120, which was already a very reasonable price for such a high-performing signature model, and the low version will run you a mere $110. Read full review. Price $110.
adidas DON Issue 6
The DON Issue 6 is the brand’s light, speedy guard shoe, an excellent example of this shoe style. With the DON Issue 6 you’ll be getting top tier traction, a springy and agile cushioning system, and top-notch support features all packed into a light and breezy package. On top of that, the shoe retails for a very reasonable $120. Now, it’s not a good option for outdoor play and heavier hoopers, or those with a more powerful playing style might prefer a more substantial shoe with a more plush cushioning system. Still, the DON Issue 6 is a great, guard-orientated performance basketball shoe. Read the full review. Price $120.
Nike GT Cut 3
The Nike GT Cut 3 is a fun shoe. It’s bouncy, it’s agile, and it’s just one of those models that, as soon as you lace it up, makes you want to sprint up and down the court. The Zoom X does not disappoint, and Nike has done a very good job of implementing it into a basketball shoe. It’s soft and squishy, but by no means feels unstable or slow on court, making it a great option for guards in general, and it might just be the best GT Cut model to date. Read the full review. Price: $190
Nike GT Hustle 2
The Nike GT Hustle 2 is the successor to, and an enormous improvement on the Nike GT Run and might just be one of the better performance models we see this year. It is also somewhat of a niche performance model. The very low-profile cushioning system (which features a full-length Zoom Air strobel), the minimal support features, and the traction could make the Nike GT Hustle 2 one of the best guard shoes of the year. Read the full review. Price: $170
Nike Book 1
The Nike Book 1 will be an awesome hoop shoe for some people. If you like 90’s style basketball shoes, this is a no-brainer. The Book 1 has everything you could ask for in terms of simplicity of design, quality of materials, and no-frills on-court performance, AND, surprisingly, it will hold up really well outdoors. The Book 1 proves that lightweight textiles are more of a gimmick than a performance feature and they are widely used as a cost-cutting measure for companies and not to create better products for the consumer. They look good, they play good, and they just get the job done. End of story. Read full review. Price $140.
Way of Wade 808 3
The Way of Wade 808 3 promises to be one of the best guard shoes for the third straight year. You’re getting a great, low profile, speedy cushioning setup, top-tier traction, and support features, and a versatile shoe that will work equally well indoors and outdoors, all for the very reasonable price of $119. Our recommendation is to go with the “normal” version instead of the Ultra version. Read the full review. Price: $119
Puma Stewie 3
The Puma Stewie 3 is an elevated and improved Kobe 11. It’s more flexible, wider, lower to the ground, with better torsional support and more durable cushioning…so if you like the Kobe 11 or you’re looking for an affordable Kobe substitute, the Puma Stewie 3 should be at the top of your list.
With this shoe, you’ll get top-notch traction, a smooth and reactive ride on court, and elite lockdown and containment. And you get all of that for the very reasonable price of $120. It’s more of a guard shoe, and if you need above-average cushioning, this might not the shoe for you. But all around, the Stewie 3 is a great performance model and a worthy 3rd model in Brianna Stewart’s signature line. Read the full review. Price: $130
Curry 11
The one weakness of all the Flow Curry models has been the cushioning. Not that it was bad in any way, but Flow for basketball has been dense and neutral feeling underfoot, making the shoes that feature it fairly niche items. With the new dual-density iteration of Flow in the Curry 11, that one weakness has been addressed. This shoe has everything you know and love from the Curry signature line, with softer, bouncier cushioning. Read the full review. Price: $160
Puma MB 03
The Puma MB 03 might just be the best LaMelo signature shoe to date, which is saying something. In terms of on-court performance, the Puma MB 01 is hard to beat, but the MB 03 features better materials, and, in our opinion, a more refined and unique design, which might just clinch the W.
The Puma MB 03 has everything a shooting guard needs out of a basketball shoe: great traction, a wide and stable base, a well-balanced cushioning system, and a very nice and supportive fit. Read the full review. Price: $130
Under Armour Curry 10
Steph Curry’s signature line is one of the most consistent signature lines out there, and the Curry 10 is another highlight.
The Curry 10’s stand-out feature is the cushioning/ traction system (also featured on the Curry 9): Under Armour’s Flow technology. Flow offers great impact protection and a seamless ride from heel to toe. The Flow foam acts as both the cushion and the traction, and both are superb. The Curry 10 also features an improved and more supportive upper called Warp 2.0. Read full review. Price: $160
Puma TRC Blaze Court
The Puma TRC Blaze Court continues Puma’s resurgence into the performance basketball sneaker scene. The outsole looks and performs exceptionally. It’s mainly made of multi-directional lines with a herringbone pattern in critical places. The combination of Trinomic and ProFoam+ works well to offer impact protection and stability for both ends of the floor. If you haven’t tried Puma basketball, this is an excellent shoe. See the full review. Price: $120
Puma Rise Nitro
The Puma Rise Nitro succeeds the could-have-been-better Puma Fusion Nitro, and it looks like Puma listened to the possible improvements we suggested. The outsole is not only beautiful in our eyes, but functional. Their torsional and spring plates are combined to create the ProPlate, similar to the one used in the Puma Clyde All-Pro. The midsole is full-length Nitro-infused foam, much like the Puma MB.01. Even with the struggle of getting to the laces, the fit is near perfect. See the full review. Price: $125
Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes for Shooting Guards 2024
Check out our full list of the best outdoor basketball shoes here.
Way of Wade All City 12
The Way of Wade All City 12 is a very solid all-around performance model with no real weak points, and several strong points. The full-length Boom cushioning is very well balanced, the multipurpose traction is excellent, and containment and support are top-notch as well. But what makes these a great pickup is the versatility factor.
The fact that they can handle any type of playing surface and that they will suit almost any position and playing style make the All City 12 stand out among other similarly priced basketball shoes. Read the full review. Price: $150
Best Budget Basketball Shoes for Shooting Guards 2024
Check out our full list of the best budget basketball shoes here.
Nike Air Max Impact 4
Right off the bat, the Nike Air Max Impact 4 is absolutely the best budget model on the market today. The quality of the cushion setup, at the price, is awesome.
They’re incredibly soft and comfortable and feature an Air Max Unit in the heel. The upper is soft and needs no break-in time and you have a great feeling shoe. Support is terrific with two outriggers and the fit is wide-foot friendly. There’s really no other shoe under $100 that performs this well and this consistently. Read the full review. Price: $90
Thinking of a shoe we should add to the best basketball shoes for shooting guards list? Comment below or message us on Instagram or Twitter.
