The cushioning setup of basketball sneakers can differ wildly. There are shoes like the Kyrie 3 that make you feel like walking on a slab of concrete while others (Lebron 18) provide cushion that feels like a soft pillow.
Not everybody needs soft and comfortably-cushioned basketball shoes, but there are a lot of reasons why basketball shoes with a lot of impact protection might make sense for you:
- You are a big and heavy guy
Large players put a lot more stress on their joints and profit the most from well-cushioned shoes - You experience a lot of knee pain
If your knees are hurting after every game you should look for more impact protection! - You play a lot
If you are absolutely crazy about basketball and play hours every day it might make sense to get a second pair that provides additional cushioning to relieve the stress on your joints
To help you find the best cushioned basketball sneaker I am constantly checking out the latest shoe releases and record the ratings of every honest and qualified performance review I can find. So far I have summed up the findings of 1403 reviews of 283 different performance basketball shoes.
The following overview shows the top ten sneakers, ranked by the average score they received for their cushioning. This list was last updated on Dec 05, 2023. Scroll down further to see a more detailed summary of each shoe, or click on the links to see quotes and ratings from every review I gathered for each shoe.
- 10.0 cushion rating based on 8 expert reviews
- The tech-loaded Nike GT Jump's performance is outstanding.
- Best for players with an explosive play style looking for good cushioning.
- 9.8 cushion rating based on 6 expert reviews
- Nike's G.T. Jump 2 has one of the best cushioning setups.
- Any players who thrive with maximalist cushioning will love the Nike G.T. Jump 2.
- 9.6 cushion rating based on 7 expert reviews
- The Li-Ning Way of Wade 10 features an outstanding cushioning setup alongside its grippy traction.
- This shoe is an excellent pick for quick, explosive players who enjoy a bouncy feeling in their shoes.
- 9.5 cushion rating based on 9 expert reviews
- The Nike KD 15 is a shoe that has something for every type of player.
- Best for players looking for a shoe that covers all the bases.
- 9.4 cushion rating based on 9 expert reviews
- The Nike LeBron 21 maintains its high level of performance while improving its support and stability.
- The Nike LeBron 21 is fit for all play styles because of the mix of traction, cushioning and support.
- 9.3 cushion rating based on 7 expert reviews
- The Air Jordan 38 takes a step forward with improved support. The traction and cushioning are also solid.
- This is a perfect shoe for players looking for maximalist containment.
- 9.3 cushion rating based on 10 expert reviews
- The Nike Air Zoom G.T. Cut 2 continues to offer plenty of cushioning and solid overall performance.
- Shifty players who enjoy lots of cushioning
- 9.2 cushion rating based on 5 expert reviews
- The All City 10 V2 is a versatile performer which excels in cushioning and stability.
- A great pick for players looking for maximum performance without a max price tag.
- 9.1 cushion rating based on 9 expert reviews
- The Harden Vol 7 feels quick because of the traction and cushioning setup.
- The perfect shoe for those with versatile playstyles.
- 9.0 cushion rating based on 6 expert reviews
- One of Puma's best basketball shoes. The traction is outstanding, and the cushioning is comfortable.
- Players looking for a versatile shoe that's not expensive will love the Puma All Pro Nitro.
Top 10 Best Cushion Basketball Shoes
1. Nike Air Zoom GT Jump
The tech-loaded Nike GT Jump's performance is outstanding.cushion rating based on 8 reviews
2. Nike G.T. Jump 2
Nike's G.T. Jump 2 has one of the best cushioning setups.cushion rating based on 6 reviews
3. Li-Ning Way of Wade 10
The Li-Ning Way of Wade 10 features an outstanding cushioning setup alongside its grippy traction.cushion rating based on 7 reviews
4. Nike KD 15
The Nike KD 15 is a shoe that has something for every type of player.cushion rating based on 9 reviews
5. Nike Lebron 21
The Nike LeBron 21 maintains its high level of performance while improving its support and stability.cushion rating based on 9 reviews
6. Air Jordan 38
The Air Jordan 38 takes a step forward with improved support. The traction and cushioning are also solid.cushion rating based on 7 reviews
7. Nike Air Zoom G.T. Cut 2
The Nike Air Zoom G.T. Cut 2 continues to offer plenty of cushioning and solid overall performance.cushion rating based on 10 reviews
8. Li-Ning Way of Wade All City 10 V2
The All City 10 V2 is a versatile performer which excels in cushioning and stability.cushion rating based on 5 reviews
9. Adidas Harden Volume 7
The Harden Vol 7 feels quick because of the traction and cushioning setup.cushion rating based on 9 reviews
10. Puma All Pro Nitro
One of Puma's best basketball shoes. The traction is outstanding, and the cushioning is comfortable.cushion rating based on 6 reviews
Frequently asked questions about cushion in basketball shoes
What types of cushioning are there? And which cushion is the best?
It is impossible to say which type of cushioning setup is the best because they each cater to different needs and styles of play.
There are firm cushions like pure Phylon that provide great court feel and responsiveness which are perfect for light and quick guards. Other types of cushion like Nike Zoom Air provide a lot more impact protection and are better suited for heavy players or older athletes that want to go easy on their joints.
These are some of the most popular cushioning systems often used in basketball sneakers:
Nike Zoom Air
Nike Zoom Air is a very bouncy cushioning that provides great energy returns through the way the fibers expand back to their initial state after every impact. It is also very versatile and can be used in different ways: from small Air units like in the heel of the Kyrie 4 to one huge full-length Zoom unit like in the Jordan Why Not Zero.1
Adidas Boost
Adidas Boost is still relatively new and was first used in basketball shoes for the Adidas Crazylight Boost in 2014. Since then it has taken the sneaker world by storm because of the incredible comfort it provides and is used in popular lifestyle models like the NMD or the Yeezy Boost
Boost outsoles are made of hundreds of tiny thermoplastic urethane pellets that are fused together using hot steam. What makes these pellets unique is that they are incredibly soft while still remaining springy enough to provide great energy return. This allows Adidas to make shoes that are insanely comfortable but still provide enough responsiveness to be used in quick sports like basketball.
Boost is used in most of Adidas' high end basketball sneakers like the Crazy Explosive, D Rose 8 or the Harden Vol. 2. Check out this video to learn more about the Boost technology:
Other foam-based cushioning
Every shoe brand has multiple versions of foam cushionings usually made of EVA which is a mixture of two plastics (Ethylene and Vinyl Acetate). EVA is a foam that includes a lot of tiny air bubbles which provide the intended bounciness and comfort.
A well-know example of a simple EVA cushioning is Phylon which is used in a lot of Nike sneakers. Other more advanced forms of cushioning like Nike Lunarlon, Adidas Bounce or Under Armour Micro G use a mix of EVA and other rubbers to create lighter and more comfortable foam.
While the characteristics of foam cushioning can vary wildly, they are usually very responsive and provide great court feel but lack elite impact protection.