# The 13 Best Basketball Shoes of All Time

> Canvas high-tops from the 1920s meet molded shells, low-cut signature models and shoes you could pump up. These are the pairs that actually played.

*By YPB Team · Published October 7, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-13-best-basketball-shoes-of-all-time*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Converse Chuck Taylor All Star** — score 1000/1000
   The canvas shoe that dominated basketball from the 1920s to the 1970s.
2. **Air Jordan 11** — score 846/1000
   Tinker Hatfield's 1995 patent leather shoe, worn through the Bulls' 72-10 season.
3. **Nike Air Force 1** — score 621/1000
   The 1982 high-top that brought Nike Air to the basketball court.
4. **Reebok Question** — score 538/1000
   Allen Iverson's 1996 rookie signature shoe with a honeycomb-pattern heel.
5. **Nike Air Max Penny 1** — score 538/1000
   Penny Hardaway's 1995 signature shoe with the 1-Cent logo.
6. **Nike Air Foamposite One** — score 538/1000
   The 1997 molded-shell shoe made famous by Penny Hardaway.
7. **Nike Air Flight Huarache** — score 538/1000
   The 1992 shoe of Michigan's Fab Five with a neoprene inner sleeve.
8. **Nike Air More Uptempo** — score 440/1000
   The 1996 shoe with giant AIR lettering worn by Scottie Pippen.
9. **Nike Hyperdunk** — score 440/1000
   The 2008 Flywire shoe launched at the Beijing Olympics.
10. **Nike Zoom Kobe 4** — score 323/1000
   The 2009 low-top that convinced players to wear low-cut basketball shoes.
11. **Puma Clyde** — score 323/1000
   Walt Frazier's 1973 suede shoe, one of the first signature basketball shoes.
12. **Nike Zoom Kobe 6** — score 323/1000
   Kobe Bryant's 2011 shoe with a snakeskin-textured upper.
13. **Adidas Superstar** — score 0/1000
   The 1969 shell-toe that most NBA players wore in the early 1970s.

Tags: basketball, nba, all time, sneakers