A few months have passed and a lot of great shoes have been released, so here’s my list of the best basketball shoes 2016 edition. Six shoes, all with their own reviews.
NOTE: This article was done only a few months in 2016, so I’ve made a new one on May. Check it out HERE for an updated list. I will also make another one at the end of the year.
MY #1 RECOMMENDATION
ADIDAS D LILLARD 2.0
My Rating: 10/10 | Weight: 15 oz | Type: Mid Top
This is a MONSTER. You probably couldn’t tell by the looks right? The performance of the shoe is just kick ass in every possible way. You have some amazing features: BOUNCE cushioning, Continental Rubber traction pattern for durable and awesome traction, a durable and supportive jacquard upper, TORSION SYSTEM for arch support and StableFrame for midsole support.
All of this just works and, in my opinion, this is one of the best basketball shoes EVER. You obviously have to try them to experience it and it comes down to taste as well, but this is great for most guards and even bigger players.
The shoes come in multiple upper variants, so check THIS post out for explanations.
AIR JORDAN XXX
My Rating: 9/10 | Weight: 15.5 oz | Type: Mid Top
The most anticipated sneaker of 2016. The Jordan XX9 was so damn good, people had no idea how will that be topped. So that’s why so much hype rose. Turns out, opinions were SUPER varied across people – thousands thought this shoe is remarkable, others say it’s crap and it trashed the XX9’s reputation.
You can read my review and find out what I think about them if you want to. As for the shoe itself, the Jordan XXX has a ZOOM AIR unit in the heel, a woven mixed with Flyknit upper and the FlightSpeed technology for its cushioning setup. Traction is solid and materials are definitely well balanced. As for comfort, that’s where people argue about the most.
NIKE ZOOM HYPERREV 2016
My Rating: 9.5/10 | Weight: 13 oz | Type: Mid Top
This is a true sleeper. Last year’s HyperRev was an awesome budget shoe and Nikey topped it this year. I will say this, it’s definitely pretty damn ugly, but it performs really really well. And it costs 110 dollars. That’s a true bang for your buck.
Nike HyperRev 2016 has a TOP NOTCH cushioning setup. Unlocked ZOOM AIR units are both in the heel and forefoot, and man they are great. The upper is mesh wih Fuse for enhanced durability. Traction is plain awesome (not for outdoors though). Comfort and fit have no problems. There is a slight issue with support (if you can call it an issue), so find out more in the full review.
ADIDAS D ROSE 6 BOOST PRIMEKNIT
My Rating: 9/10 | Weight: 16.3 oz | Type: Mid Top
The original D Rose 6 Boost was out in 2015 and it was an amazing guard’s shoe. Now in 2016, we have Primeknit upper release. So the only things that changed from the original are the upper, the outsole is now translucent and the insole is removable. But the D Rose 6 itself is awesome.
BOOST cushioning has never been better on a basketball shoe. And I mean it. The amount of responsiveness and softness makes your head spin. Seriously, if you need that extra power for your movements, this is THE #1 shoe for the job. As for the rest, traction is solid, support is great thanks to StableFrame and damn is it beautiful. The only main issue is that the outsole picks up dust very quickly, so you’ll need to wipe often.
NIKE KOBE MENTALITY II
My Rating: 8/10 | Weight: 9 oz | Type: Low Top
A pretty solid budget-friendly shoe. This is solely for low profile guards who stay low to the ground and are quick on their feet. The previous Mentality had some annoying issues, but the second one fixed them.
So the Mentality 2 has a full-length Lunarlon midsole that is removable. It’s very responsive, but not too soft and with minimal impact protection, so it won’t fit bigger or heavier players. For traction, it has an AGGRESSIVE herringbone traction pattern, which is the highlight of the sneaker. For materials, it features a soft Flyweave upper that lacks in durability a bit, but performs well and it’s super comfortable. Support is not the best, but gets the job done for a low profile guard. If I needed to tell a reason why you should get this shoe, it would be the traction. It’s ferocious, outdoors too.
NIKE KOBE XI
My Rating: 7.5/10 | Weight: 12.1 oz | Type: Low Top
Last on the list, we have a very popular choice. Kobe’s latest signature and the very last one he will wear as an NBA player. It’s special for Kobe, but not that special for us regular people. The Kobe 11 has some great potential but lacks in some spots a bit.
So the shoe has a removable Lunarlon midsole and a ZOOM AIR unit in the heel. That’s a very neat combo cushion setup that is well balanced for most players. The upper is made of Flyknit and TPU threads under it for durability and support. And support is AMAZING for a low top, believe me on that one. What’s not that amazing is the sensitive traction. If you don’t play on an NBA court, they won’t feel that good. It’s a premium shoe with premium courts in mind.
Alright, Best Basketball Shoes 2016 Edition, Semi-2016 Edition, whatever you wanna call it, is done! All the most notable and best releases are listed here. You saw that there aren’t that many shoes released yet, but for 3 months, I think it’s pretty damn productive so far.
I created an updated list on May. Check it out HERE!