Accessories have always been an integral part of sports. Usually, you would see players investing in value-adding and handy items to improve their game.
The basketball shoes used by athletes in the NBA are the most preferred accessories at present. For this very reason, various shoe manufacturers are signing contracts to hire basketball players as an ambassadors to promote their brands.
In this article, we are going to rank all the top-notch basketball shoes worn by athletes. As a basketball fan or an emerging player, you must know the trending shoes in the NBA world right now.
The trends speak a lot about a product being excellent or horrible to use. So, without any further ado, let us start our statistical analysis.
Popular Basketball Shoes in the NBA
All the fans who have been following the recent trend know that Nike has ruled this ranking for quite some time. The quality, comfort, overall look, and catchy design make this brand superior to all the other manufacturers.
We would discuss each shoe type separately to let you recognize the factors lending way to their success. Starting the most demanded shoe this season, Nike Kobe 4 Protro has been the best-selling product.
The Kobe series was initially introduced in the year 2008, shortly followed by an evident success. A recent hike in popularity is all due to the death of Kobe Bryant.
This pair is used by almost all the people on the field, from mascots to support staff to players. We are now coming to the previous winner of our rankings, Nike Hyperdunk, which has received an unexpected decline in demand.
The dramatic fall has kicked the Hyperdunk out from the top tens in our list. Nike Zoom Freak 1 is another gainer in this season, making its way to the second position.
These shoes are considered the most popular signature shoes associated with a player for the first time. Giannis Antetokounmpo (the signatory), alongside his siblings Kostas and Thanasis, use Zoom Freak 1. Other bigwigs use these shoes.
The 3rd pair on our list is the Nike KD 12, named after the ever-so-charming Kevin Durant. Even though he has been unavailable for the Brooklyn Nets recently, his shoes are used by many (as evidenced by the numbers).
Nike Kobe Ad Exodus and Nike Kobe Ad NXT FF are manufactured, named, and marketed after the deceased athlete. Nike Kyrie 6 had its sales dented by the loyalty of consumers who stuck to the older versions.
For all the old-school fans and classic-style players who like using prominent basketball brands, the Adidas shoes and Jordan shoes are the best bet.
Note: the shoes are ranked based on the number of players who prefer using or using the models in competitive scenes.
| MODEL | RANGE OF PLAYERS |
| NIKE KOBE 4 PROTRO | 50-60 |
| NIKE ZOOM FREAK 1 | 40-50 |
| NIKE KD 12 | 30-40 |
| NIKE KYRIE 5 | 30-40 |
| NIKE KOBE AD EXODUS | 25-30 |
| NIKE PG 3 | 20-25 |
| NIKE KYRIE LOW 2 | 15-20 |
| AIR JORDAN 34 | 10-15 |
| NIKE ZOOM RIZE | 10-15 |
| PUMA CLYDE HARDWOOD | 10-15 |
Popular Shoe Brands in the NBA
The most prominent brand in the basketball fraternity is Nike. We have seen for years that Nike has never disappointed the athletes and fans wearing their shoes.
You would see them ruling this ranking efficiently as many players prefer using their shoes while competing. Adidas and Jordan are two other brands that hold the highest share of the market after Nike.
Puma and New Balance have made an entry in the NBA scenes during the previous season. Both the brands received a somewhat encouraging welcome from basketballers and distributors. But that’s not all.
Kelly Oubre Jr signed a contract with Converse in the year 2018, where he agreed to wear the pair in off-field scenarios. Recently, Converse has introduced All-Star Pro BB and G4 to confirm its entry into the competitive market.
Moreover, the company has signed Draymond Green to strengthen its customer base for a longer period. On the other hand, Reebok has started investing capital in the NBA for the first time since the last decade.
Josh Richardson’s latest signing has confirmed that Reebok has long-term plans to make the most out of its investment. Apart from all the brands mentioned above, Li-Ning, Anta, and Under Armour are other brands that hold fair usage among players and professionals.
| BRAND | PERCENTAGE OF PLAYERS |
| NIKE | >60% |
| ADIDAS | APPROX. 16% |
| JORDAN | APPROX. 11% |
| UNDER ARMOUR | APPROX. 8% |
| PUMA | APPROX. 4% |
| ANTA | 0.6% |
| LI-NING | 0.5% |
| NEW BALANCE | 0.5% |
| AND1 | 0.3% |
| CONVERSE | 0.2% |
NBA Players’ Popular Signature Basketball Shoes
The best signature shoes used at the NBA are Kobe and Kyrie. You would see numerous legends and rising athletes buying these pairs to enhance efficiency and comfort during their stay on the court.
Michael Jordan’s Air Jordan is the other pair, the favorite accessory for almost all the old-school fans and veteran players.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Zoom Freak 1 is the newest entry in the shoe market, where it has been signed as the first footwear associated with the player. It has performed better than expected.
All the mentioned signature shoes hold more than half of the total demand globally, which speaks a lot about their dominance. Paul George’s signature shoes have received a sudden decline in sales due to customers switching to the older versions.
Even Kevin Durant’s signature is a better pair to invest money in, whether Kevin has been active or not. All the signature shoes are convenient, comfortable, stylish, and unique in their own way.
| SIGNATURE SHOES | RANGE OF PLAYERS |
| KOBE BRYANT (NIKE KOBE) | ABOVE 100 |
| KYRIE IRVING (NIKE KYRIE) | 60-70 |
| MICHAEL JORDAN (AIR JORDAN) | 30-50 |
| GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO (NIKE ZOOM FREAK) | 30-40 |
| KEVIN DURANT (NIKE KD) | 25-30 |
| PAUL GEORGE (NIKE PG) | 25-30 |
| LEBRON JAMES (NIKE LEBRON AND SOLDIER) | 10-15 |
| JAMES HARDEN (ADIDAS HARDEN) | 10-15 |
| DAMIAN LILLARD (ADIDAS DAME) | 7-10 |
| STEPH CURRY (UNDER ARMOUR CURRY) | 7-10 |