Imagine yourself in an RPG game, you are on your way to fight a boss, and he has an upper-hand on you, and beats you to a pulp each time. You, as a result, will go back and enhance yourself by buying upgraded armour and weapons, same goes with basketball shoes. Today you are failing, but tomorrow when you pick the right pair of basketball shoes, your traction, stability, movement and jump will be given a boost, and then no one can stop you from owning the court.
So let me guide you to your destination and aid you in picking up the right pair of basketball shoes under $150, with detailed information alongside the pros and cons of each pair.
Best Basketball shoes under $150
1. Air Jordan 35
This pair comes with an expensive price-tag but that it is justified by the premium material used with an outstanding design that helps instability, ankle support and grip. The herringbone traction pattern is flawless for indoor courts, the grip provided by it will help you stay firm on your feet, and the twist or turns will be easy to do.
Though after playing on the outdoor courts, the traction does need cleaning. The unlocked zoom air unit in the heel significantly improves cushioning with respect to its predecessor, and the bounce on these shoes deserves a big round of applause, probably these shoes have the best cushioning in the industry.
The materials used are picked from the highest tier, and they give a sleek look to the shoe, and the ventilation provided by them will never let your feet suffocate.
The ankle collar provides good ankle support, and the lateral stability of the shoe has no complaints from me. The nylon laces might be an issue for people with sensitive skin, but overall the fit is good but could have been improved.
The outsole of the shoes is thin and not recommended for outdoor use.
2. Nike Men’s Kyrie 5
If you are a quick, agile guard, then these shoes are made for you, hands down the best shoes for guards under $150. Erving, the man who is probably one of the finest in history in putting that orange ball into the net, has inspired these shoes; the Nike Kyrie 5 are the best shoes for you if you want to follow his path.
I have always said that you have to compromise on impact protection if you need good guard shoes, the impact protection should be the least highlighting feature of a shoe designed for the guards and this shoe is no different.
The traction provides on all types of courts is one of the biggest reasons that I loved this pair, on the dusty court, it was exceptional and as good as in the inside courts. The air zoom turbo bag cushioning is incorporated in the pair to make you feel the court, stay far away if you can’t compromise on the impact protection, but embrace it if you want responsive shoes.
The mesh used in the shoe enhances ventilation, and it is straightforward to get used to. The support of this shoe is remarkable, your ankle is locked and doesn’t go anywhere, the lateral movement is terrific, and on the market you can’t show me another guard shoe with the same level of support.
The fit of the shoe is fantastic, it is hard to put it on because of the emphasis it has put on support, but once your foot is inside the shoe, then the comfort level is through the roof. For outdoor use, these shoes are not recommended.
3. Adidas N3XT L3V3L 2020
This is a shoe for fast-playing players, but unlike our second option it does have excellent impact protection, so if you are a fast-playing guard and value the impact protection of shoes, then this right here should be part of your basketball gear.
These are not shoes for guards; they are capable of doing companionship with any position. The traction provided on the indoor courts was flawless, but on the dusty court, you need to wipe the dust off, because it catches a lot of dust.
The Lightsrtike cushioning is brilliant; it is providing you splendid bounce and immaculate impact protection while no compromise on the amount of court feel and the responsiveness is seen. The primeknit upper has made me bestow love on this pair whenever I put them on for a game, just amazing.
The heel counter in the shoe is the spotlight of the support mechanism of the shoe but let’s not take too much credit away from the brilliant lateral movement you can have. The break-in time is very high for this shoe, but after one a half week, you will get used to it.
The outsole is not too soft or rubbery, and I would definitively recommend you to use them outdoor. All in all a great basketball shoe under $150.
4. LI-NING Wow 7
If you are looking for a shoe that can last you a long time then look no further, I have found you perfect. Just keep in mind one thing, the traction on these shoes can be a hit and run, so be sure that you keep it clean on the dusty courts, because it will not give you an optimal performance there but on the inside courts expect better results, but it could have been improved.
The cushioning mechanism is one of the best and second on this list after the Adidas N3XT L3V3L 2020. The mesh used at the top breaths well and the lateral stability it provides is fantastic. The support of the shoes is good, but it does have a downside to it, and that is the increased stiffness of the shoes.
The support mechanism does hold your heel locked in, but it makes the shoe hard. If you want durability, then leaving behind a little comfort is not that bad a deal. The fit of the shoe worried me because of the dead space in the shoe, but the shoes are build to be used outdoor, and it will not give you any issues there.
5. Under Armour Men’s HOVR Havoc 2
Unlike the LI-NING Wow 7, this pair is built to be durable but not stiff, and it is neither too soft nor too hard. The traction of this shoe is excellent in the inside courts but lacks on the outside court, but in comparison to other Under Armour shoes, this pair is much better on dusty courts.
The pair is built amazingly in regard to impact protection and the court feel; you don’t need to sacrifice on the impact protection to have the feel court, they have done a tremendous job here. The material used is very smooth and premium looking, the competition out there is providing the same quality material but $30 to $40 expensive.
The base of the shoes is fantastic, the heel counter and the lateral support impressed me a lot. An Under Armour shoe has never failed when it comes to the fit of the shoes, and this pair is no different. The lacing system and the overall design of the shoe make it a perfect fit for your feet. For outdoor use, this shoe is recommended.
6. Nike Men’s KD 13 Bred
If you have wide feet, then stay away from this pair, but for standard feet, this is an excellent basketball shoe under $150. Inspired by the Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durrant, this shoe is as soothing as his Durantula Dunk. The traction will perform equally well in both dusty and indoor courts, so no need to wipe the traction now and then.
The cushioning, I think my words are not enough to describe has done with the full-length zoom air here, astounding. I owned LI-NING Wow 8 and thought that was the best cushioning in a basketball shoe, but this pair has left behind everyone in that department.
When you put it on the first time, your feet will feel like entering the paradise. The court feel with impact protection is in one word “perfection.” The brilliant cushioning is something to cherish, but the textile material used in the shoe is not impressive and a massive downgrade over what its predecessor had.
The support of the pair is not impressive at all, and I would rate it a 7 out of 10. The shoe has no dead space, and it is a perfect fit for my feet. I would not recommend it for outdoor use, as the rubber on the outside is not durable enough.
7. Jordan Why Not Zero.3
This shoe is a perfect option for fast-moving players, who are two-way machines on the court and need a lot of freedom. The traction is pretty solid on both indoor courts and dusty courts. The cushioning is very good in this price tag, the impact protection because of the foam around the hell is a lovely addition.
It gives you good bounce, and thus an explosive player will love to glide on the court wearing these. The material used is not good. After two-quarters of a match, my feet were on fire because of the ventilation, and it felt like hot lava inside the shoes, but despite this criticism, I must say, it is one light shoe.
The lacing system is splendid, the lateral movement is incredible, and hill slippage is non-existent. The strap and the lacing system together makes it a very good fit. For outdoor use, the recommendation percentage is zero.
8. Nike PG 4
Our last shoes were for explosive players; this is for the modest players on the pitch. This is a shoe that I wouldn’t pick and feel right about a particular aspect of it, but I will certainly appreciate how it is a balanced show with no major flaw nor any major highlight, it has a bit of everything.
The traction held well in the indoor courts and on the dusty courts, it required no cleaning. Nike again hits the bull-eye with the cushioning, surpassing the cushioning of its little brother PG-3, the court feel, heel protection and impact guarding, top of the line.
The mesh used on the top is breathable, not very premium but gets the job done. The support is not very good in this shoe; the lateral movement is not right; the heel counter is not up to the usual standards and results in heel slippage.
The break-in period of this show is considerable in comparison to its predecessor, after the break-in period it is an above-average fit, not exceptional for example like the Jordan Jordan Why Not Zero.3. The traction it provides is reliable for outdoor use, and I would recommend it for outdoor use.
Conclusion:
The basketball shoes were supposed to be expensive and cost way more than $150, but now the companies are introducing some fantastic pairs, in this price category; that neither compromises on performance nor the style. You can pick up the perfect shoe for yourself in this category, that a few years back was a far fetched dream and in those days paying a colossal amount was an absolute given.
