Your last pair of basketball sneakers has absolutely no traction left, you had to glue the outer-sole back onto the upper, and the cushioning has completely bottomed out?
Believe me, I’ve been there! I like to wear my shoes as long as physically possible because finding new and affordable basketball shoes is something I do NOT enjoy. There are so many different models to choose from and hunting for the best bargain can be a real time sink.
Why is this resource more helpful than others?
Usually, if you write an article about cheap basketball shoes it is already outdated a few days later. New shoes are released all the time, older models get huge rebates and online stores offer great discount codes from time to time
To prevent this article from being useless in a week, I coded a tool that checks the prices on the most popular basketball shoe stores and updates them daily.
The following list shows you the best basketball shoes currently available under $100 ordered by the average rating of their performance.
If you want to find more cheap basketball shoes, you can check out the complete list of shoes here.
- 8.9 rating based on 7 expert reviews
- The Curry Flow 9 manages to improve on its impressive predecessor.
- Great shoe if you rely on traction and court feel.
- 8.9 rating based on 8 expert reviews
- The KD14 is a great overall performer with no obvious weaknesses.
- A versatile shoe that works for all type of players.
- 8.5 rating based on 11 expert reviews
- The Jordan Luka 1 offers fantastic traction and tons of lateral support.
- Recommended for players that use a lot of side steps and other lateral movements.
- 8.5 rating based on 5 expert reviews
- Traction on the TWO WXY V2 is outstanding, but the other features don't disappoint.
- Ideal for players willing to give up some cushion for the other performance aspects fundamentals will enjoy this shoe.
- 8.5 rating based on 7 expert reviews
- The Nike Kyrie 8 is a welcome improvement in the Kyrie lineup.
- Best for players looking for a shoe with no real weaknesses.
- 8.4 rating based on 6 expert reviews
- The Air Jordan 37 is a top performer with bouncy forefoot cushioning and strong materials.
- Recommended for forefoot-heavy players looking for a bouncy setup
- 8.4 rating based on 7 expert reviews
- The Nike Cosmic Unity 2s materials make the shoe an improvement from last year's model, but only slightly.
- Players that want cushioning but also want to feel low to the ground
- 8.4 rating based on 7 expert reviews
- One of the best Harden models to date
- Great shoe for fans of the full-length Boost setup
- 8.4 rating based on 7 expert reviews
- The Jordan Zoom Separate is a great option for specific types of players.
- Best for forefoot heavy players that need the cushion.
- 8.4 rating based on 3 expert reviews
- Great shoe for traction and outdoor use
- Good choice for players that are looking for a shoe to beat up outdoors
- 8.4 rating based on 2 expert reviews
- The Curry 3Z5 is a fantastic shoe at a budget-friendly price.
- Guards who want to play quick but still like impact protection.
- 8.3 rating based on 3 expert reviews
- The Li-Ning Ice Blood V2 offers top-tier traction and solid responsiveness.
- Lighter, shifty guards will enjoy the Ice Blood V2.
- 8.3 rating based on 6 expert reviews
- The Nike Zoom Freak 4 is a worthy upgrade in Giannis Antetokounmpo's line.
- Players looking for solid performance and springy cushioning on a budget will enjoy this shoe.
- 8.3 rating based on 9 expert reviews
- The Jordan Zion 2 is a supportive shoe with traction to boot.
- Recommended for players that rely on lateral cuts and movements.
- 8.3 rating based on 7 expert reviews
- The excellent traction and light materials make for an excellent budget-friendly option.
- A great pick for players that rely on quick footwork.
- 8.3 rating based on 8 expert reviews
- The Kawhi 2 is an improvement on the 1 in almost every way.
- Best for forwards and centers that need strong traction and stability.
- 8.3 rating based on 8 expert reviews
- The Nike LeBron 19 is better in almost every way compared to last year's model.
- Perfect if you enjoy extra cushion and impact protection.
- 8.3 rating based on 3 expert reviews
- The Under Armour Flow FUTR X is an amazing budget-friendly alternative to the Curry Flow 8 if you don't need a lot of cushioning.
- Perfect shoe for guards that have a quick style of play.
- 8.2 rating based on 5 expert reviews
- The Nike LeBron 19 Low might be a better performer than the 19s.
- Players looking for a less bulky LeBron shoe.
How do you find great deals?
Budget Models or Shoes From Last Season
Find well-performing budget models at an affordable list price or older models that sell for a much-reduced price because their successor is already out. Well-known budget models like the Nike Zoom Rise, or Under Armour Charged Controller are not backed by signature players and retail for around $100.
These models often perform just as well as much more expensive signature line shoes but save money by focusing on more affordable materials, less cutting-edge tech, and a much smaller marketing budget.
On the other hand, you can find signature shoes like Air Jordans or the Kobe line that often entered the market at almost $200 for half their price if you are willing to wait for a year.
How to Get the Best Bang for Your Buck
In order to find the shoes that provide the best value we need to know two things about each shoe: price and performance. I put a lot of time and effort in creating a basketball shoe database that contains average review scores from sources like weartesters.com, solecollector.com, and many popular sneaker Youtube Channels. This database also pulls current prices from online shops. This allows me to easily find affordable sneakers that got the thumbs up from real shoe experts.
You can check out the complete list of basketball shoes here.
