There are a lot of different things to consider when choosing a pair of basketball shoes. Brands release a myriad of different models every year, and they all have different performance features for different playing styles. So, a good way of finding basketball shoes that will work for you is by sorting through shoes that were designed to cater to your position on the court. To that end, in this article, we will go over the best basketball shoes for shooting guards.
Shooting guards usually share a lot of characteristics with point guards, with the peculiarity that they play off-ball. Basketball shoes for shooting guards will therefore have great traction to get you around screens and stop on a dime to get into your shot, a supportive upper to withstand changes of speed and direction, and responsive cushioning with a little extra impact protection, particularly in the heel.
With all this in mind, we have sifted through the hundreds of models we test each season and picked out the top sneaker models that excel in these aspects. So, with all that being said, let’s get right into the best basketball shoes for shooting guards.
We’ve already listed the best basketball shoes for point guards, the best basketball shoes for small forwards, the best basketball shoes for centers, and the best basketball shoes for power forwards. Now we’re going to dive into the best basketball shoes for shooting guards.
Updated: 06.01.2023
Best Basketball Shoes for Shooting Guards Show
Best Basketball Shoes for Shooting Guards Overall
Best Basketball Shoe for Shooting Guards
Li-Ning Wade 808 2
The Li-Ning Wade 808 2 brings back a technology we all loved: drop-in midsoles. They were most popular on various Nike Kobe models, the Nike LeBron 11, and the adidas Harden Vol 5. The drop-in for this pair is pure Cloud foam which is plush and comfortable. You can exchange it for the BOOM drop-in from the Li-Ning Wade 808 2 Ultra. It’s awesome when you can customize the cushion to your preferences. The upper is basic, but it will get the job done because it’s both lightweight and adequately supportive. See the full review. Price: $119 $109
Nike KD 15
The Nike KD 15 is a great basketball shoe, as simple as that. The Nike KD 14 was already a pretty flawless performance model, and the KD 15 improves upon it.
The cushioning system is superb. Cushlon is used as the primary foam carrier and on top of that is the full-length Nike Zoom Air Strobel unit to provide impact protection and bounce under your feet. The traction pattern is grippy and very reminiscent of the one featured on the Kobe 9, which offered some of the best traction of all time. A wonderful model that will work well for shooting guards. See the full review. Price: $150
adidas Harden Vol 7
The adidas Harden Vol 7 is a near-perfect shoe for a shooting guard. The Vol 7 might look odd but it comes with really excellent traction, a luxurious cushioning setup, and elite support features. It is one of the best basketball shoes of the year, and it is great to finally have a plush adidas basketball shoe available. Read full review. Price: $180
Nike Kyrie 8 (Infinity)
The Nike Kyrie 8 is an awesome all-around performance model and the best shoe in Kyrie’s signature line. The shoe has great traction (that does take some time to break in), excellent cushioning provided by a large volume forefoot Zoom strobel unit and another standard unit in the heel, as well as great lockdown and some premium materials along the upper.
The Kyrie 8 features more cushion than you would expect out of a Kyrie Shoe but it doesn’t sacrifice any responsiveness. The shoe’s wide forefoot is also perfect to help players stop quickly and remain stable when stepping into their shooting motion. Read the full review. Price: $140
adidas DON Issue 4
The adidas DON Issue 4 is a good shoe for those who love stability. The cushion is stiff, making it stable; a substantial shank plate and a broad base also contribute to its overall feel. The traction performed well on outdoor and outdoor settings despite being mostly translucent rubber. The upper is Jacquard, that’s both light and durable. Going true to size is recommended, though we advise bringing your orthotics, ankle braces, or other accessories if you try them on in-store. See the full review. Price: $120
Puma TRC Blaze Court
The Puma TRC Blaze Court continues Puma’s resurgence into the performance basketball sneaker scene. The outsole looks and performs exceptionally. It’s mainly made of multi-directional lines with a herringbone pattern in critical places. The combination of Trinomic and ProFoam+ works well to offer impact protection and stability for both ends of the floor. If you haven’t tried Puma basketball, this is an excellent shoe. See the full review. Price: $120
New Balance TWO WXY V3
The New Balance TWO WXY V2 is an upgrade from the last version and is even better than their flagship model for the Klaw. The traction is fantastic for as long as it lasts. The cushion with FuelCell works well for shooting guards. The FitWeave upper is comfortable and moves well with your feet. There is very little to complain about. See the full review. Price: $120
Puma Rise Nitro
The Puma Rise Nitro succeeds the could-have-been-better Puma Fusion Nitro, and it looks like Puma listened to the possible improvements we suggested. The outsole is not only beautiful in our eyes, but functional. Their torsional and spring plates are combined to create the ProPlate, similar to the one used in the Puma Clyde All-Pro. The midsole is full-length Nitro-infused foam, much like the Puma MB.01. Even with the struggle of getting to the laces, the fit is near perfect. See the full review. Price: $125
Under Armour Curry 10
Steph Curry’s signature line is one of the most consistent signature lines out there, and the Curry 10 is another highlight.
The Curry 10’s stand-out feature is the cushioning/ traction system (also featured on the Curry 9): Under Armour’s Flow technology. Flow offers great impact protection and a seamless ride from heel to toe. The Flow foam acts as both the cushion and the traction, and both are superb. The Curry 10 also features an improved and more supportive upper called Warp 2.0. Read full review. Price: $160
Air Jordan 36 Low
The Air Jordan 36 Low is much like the regular Air Jordan 36, just with a slightly lower collar height. We still get the full-length Zoom Air Strobel that’s comfortable and bouncy and an additional Zoom Air unit in the forefoot for more impact protection. The Lenoweave upper may look like dental floss, but it is surprisingly supportive and lightweight. The traction bites well, especially when you’re cutting and moving around screens. Read the full review. Price: $165
Air Jordan 36
The Air Jordan 36 is another great all-around shoe. The main reason for it being on our list of the best basketball shoes for shooting guards is the full-length Zoom Air Strobel and an additional forefoot Zoom unit. Adding the great support (enhanced by the Eclipse Plate) and the grippy traction, you have a winner on your hands, just ask Jayson Tatum. See the full review. Price: $185
New Balance Kawhi 2
The best way to describe the New Balance Kawhi 2 is solid. No one feature will blow you away, but everything on the shoe works well, and even more importantly, it all works well together.
The cushion is denser and more responsive, so stability is its best asset. The FitWeave upper also reduces a lot of the weight from the previous model. It’s a good option for those who give effort on both sides of the floor. See the full review. Price: $160
adidas Harden Vol 6
The adidas Harden Vol 6 is a great improvement on the adidas Harden Vol 5. The shoe features a full-length Boost midsole, which is caged on the lateral side, keeping the cushion on the responsive side. Traction and support are also standouts on the Harden 6.
James Harden‘s playing style is more ball-dominant than a traditional shooting guard, but his size requires added impact protection, so his signature models are usually good options for 2 guards. Read the full review. Price: $140
Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes for Shooting Guards 2023
Nike KD 14 or Nike KD 15
Both of these models will work great outdoors. We went with the KD 14 here, because at this point you have a good chance of finding the KD 14 at a lower price, so beating them up outdoors will hurt a little less.
Both the KD 15 and the KD 14 feature a full-length Zoom Air Strobel that, mixed with the soft, plush Cushlon is more than enough to keep your legs fresh outdoors. The rubber compound may not be insanely firm, but there’s a lot of tread to wear down, so it should last you a while. See the full review. Price: $150
Best Budget Basketball Shoes for Shooting Guards 2023
Nike Air Max Impact 4
Right off the bat, the Nike Air Max Impact 4 is absolutely the best budget model on the market today. The quality of the cushion setup, at the price, is awesome.
They’re incredibly soft and comfortable and feature an Air Max Unit in the heel. The upper is soft and needs no break-in time and you have a great feeling shoe. Support is terrific with two outriggers and the fit is wide-foot friendly. There’s really no other shoe under $100 that performs this well and this consistently. Read the full review. Price: $90
adidas Harden Stepback 3
The adidas Harden Stepback 3 is not as good as the adidas Harden Vol. 6, but it’s still a great budget option. The shoe features a full-length Bounce foam midsole that feels like the Bounce that we fell in love with a few years ago. The materials are basic yet comfortable. The fit is accommodating, and wide-footers will especially enjoy it. The best part is the traction. It grips every surface, outdoor and indoor. Read the full review. Price: $80
Thinking of a shoe we should add to the best basketball shoes for shooting guards list? Comment below or message us on Instagram or Twitter.
