Basketball isn’t just about what you do on the court. As we’ve learned from the greats like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, the work starts off the court. But you can’t just train for training’s sake. There has to be intention and planning incorporated with it. If not, you risk underdeveloping the correct muscle groups and increasing the likelihood of serious injury. Part of staying healthy is making sure you do plenty of off-court training. With that in mind, these are the Best Basketball Training Shoes currently available.
Basketball training usually includes a lot of plyometrics and dynamic movements. And some workouts even mimic moves you’d make in games. With that in mind, you want a shoe that’s stable for lateral and explosive moves, some extra cushion for impact protection, and at the same time allows you to lift weights effectively. The shoes listed here are versatile enough for both types of training, which is a rarer combination than you’d think.
At WearTesters, we test hundreds of sneakers each year. To put together this list, we found outstanding basketball training performers that can offer a little bit of everything. We chose shoes that cushion jumps and sprints, can grip the floor like no one’s business, and remain stable throughout all workouts. Basketball training is no easy task for one shoe, but we think you’ll enjoy our picks for the best basketball training shoes.
Categories are used below so you can easily find what’s important to you. If you know what you need, you can simply click the category link. If not, feel free to browse the whole list.
Updated: 05.31.2024
Best Basketball Training Shoes Show
Best Basketball Training Shoes 2024
Nike Metcon Turbo 2
The Nike Metcon Turbo 2 feels like the cross-training shoe version of the Nike GT Cut 2. The main reason for this is the drop-in React midsole with a built-in forefoot Zoom Air unit. It does a great job of protecting against impact and keeping your legs and feet fresher for longer. The broad, stable base also helps when doing explosive exercises for basketball training. Adding to all that, the traction is top-notch. The Metcon Turbo 2 grips well, which will pay dividends during the agility drills and side-to-side movements key to basketball success. Read the full review. Price: $150
GORUCK Ballistic Trainer
The GORUCK Ballistic Trainer may not stand out visually but never judge a book by its cover or a shoe by its picture. The upper uses a ballistic Cordura mesh which is soft and flexible. The Ballistic Trainer features Gradient Density EVA foam for the cushion, which means the shoe is more cushioned in the forefoot to accommodate jumping, running, and explosive movements. At the same time, the heel is more dense and stiff, a stable platform while lifting. The traction is also a highlight. The outsole uses three different rubbers. Remember that the GORUCK Ballistic Trainer fits longer than other training shoes, so make sure to go down half a size. Read the full review. Price: $125
Puma PWR Nitro Squared
The Puma PWR Nitro Squared is the cross training version of the Puma All Pro Nitro, one of our favorite basketball shoes. It’d not built for competitive weightlifting or CrossFit, but it’s built to handle anything your basketball workout will throw at you including most normal lifting. It’s comfortable and bouncy which makes it great for basketball training or any and all jumping exercises. This shoe can also handle large amounts of cardio, something you don’t see often in this category. See the full review. Price: $120
Best Basketball Shoes for Training
Nike GT Hustle 2
By far the best basketball shoe currently on the market to train with. 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, but it’s definitely a niche basketball shoe. The very low-profile cushioning system, the minimal support features, and the traction could make the Nike GT Hustle 2 one of the best guard shoes of the year, but it might not be enough for bigger players with a more power-based playing style. The GT Hustle is a top-notch performance model, maybe just not for everyone. Read the full review. Price: $170
Jordan Luka 2
The Jordan Luka 2 is a very similar shoe to the Jordan Luka 1, so it makes sense that it would make our list of the best Jordan basketball shoes. We have basically the same traction setup, very similar cushioning (if anything the Luka 2 is slightly bouncier), and the same spring plate. The Jordan Luka 1 was designed to enhance Luka’s patented stepback and the Luka 2 takes that concept to the next level. They do feel slightly stiffer and will require more breaking time. The fit is true to size. Read the full review. Price: $130
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
Bonus: Best Volleyball Shoes for Training
Check out our full list of the best volleyball shoes here.
Mizuno Wave Momentum 3
Mizuno is probably the most popular volleyball shoe company and they know what they’re doing. With the Wave Momentum 3, Mizuno combines their signature Wave Plate technology with an improved cushioning setup and better materials. The stability and fit are versatile enough for off-court training. If you only buy one shoe for volleyball training and playing, look no further. See the full review. Price: $155
Thinking of a shoe we should add to the best basketball training shoes list? We’d also like to hear your thoughts on this list and see your best basketball training shoe shoes list in the comments. Comment below or message us on Instagram or Twitter.
