9 Best Basketball Shoes for Your Next Pickup Game

New York Liberty's Sabrina Ionescu knows what makes a court shoe feel good. Better yet, she's someone who has channelled that into a shoe amateur and pro players alike adore. The Sabrina 2 is one of the most famous sneakers out there right now, and they deserve the fame. They're pretty low-key, which we like, and they feel like they just stay out of the way so you can get work in. They are the stark opposite of old-school basketball sneakers that are too high and too stiff. The Sabrina 2 is super lightweight, low-profile, and a great fit for most people.

Steph Curry's Under Armour sneaker has been an all-round favorite since they launched in 2015. Ten years and 12 iterations later, the really take the cake on how comfortable a basketball sneaker can be. While you want a basketball shoe to feel stable and not wobbly, a really flat or un-cushioned shoe doesn't feel great, either. These have just a little bit more cushioning that makes it feel almost as comfortable as a running sneaker. The cushion on the foot-side of the heel and tongue make it feel much more comfortable than some of the other options. They are lightweight and grippy for an improved overall game.

Maybe you just want a straightforward pair of basketball shoes to get some pickup in without analysis paralysis. It is the Anta Kai 2 for you. They are low-key with plenty of room for ankle mobility but some added support up the heel. They are just plain reliable with good traction, support, and lateral stability.

This insane APL high-top sneaker is banned by the NBA, something APL is very proud of. If the league's not in the cards for you, then who cares? These are over-the top in the best way with a crazy responsive midsole and breathable knit upper. We will say that some people find these really difficult to put on, even for a high-top sneaker, which all tend to be hard to put on. However, for those unbothered, they perform well, they feel great, and they're really fast. They're also very expensive. But if you're trying to show some people up on a in a pickup game like these are the shoes to do it in.

The Adidas Harden Volume 9 is an crazy-looking futuristic shoe that looks like what we'd imagine the beings climbing off a spaceship to be wearing. They have quite a standout design, but people also really love playing basketball in them. They're super stable, and they keep your foot in place. They're lightweight enough to keep you feeling speedy. This is the most neutral color way but there's also some with like these bright hits of pink and neon yellow if you're looking for something a little bit more extra.

New Balance's TWO WXY v5 gives the feeling of absolute control—like an extension of your foot, rather than something getting in the way. These have a high supportive collar, extra padding around ball of the foot, and a very grippy multidirectional tread. Handle quick stops, pivots, and high-impact landings easssyyy.

The Nike Book 1 shoe is actually a basketball shoe but it's one of the very few you could really get away with wearing nowhere near a court. Where most modern basketball sneakers look super athletic and older ones look like they should never have been near a court, these are right down the middle. They are low-profile and have a fun retro colorway. But they are great for playing, too, with the heel Air Zoom unit and stabilizing midsole. They are minimal, low-profile, and beloved.

The Adidas Forum Low looks a little bit more like a skateboarding sneaker but it was indeed originally a basketball sneaker. We like this shoe for it's retro style: it's a little bit chunkier than the super popular Adidas shoes out right now (Samba, Gazelle, etc.). We like the bright collegiate colors.

For a high-top basketball sneaker that you're probably not playing basketball in, these Fear of God high-tops are fun and also divisive. These are done up in Fear of God's signature muted stone gray color color palette with nubuck leather and prominent rubber sole. These have an elongated toe, making them just a bit more streamlined than other rounder, chunkier basketball shoes.