Reviews of the Best Basketball Shoes:

Each NBA season there is an excitement in the air as the opening games approach and the players get back into training camp. People who watch the NBA certainly love the athletic ability of the basketball stars, but they also are interested in the latest and newest basketball shoe styles that come out each year. Many of us who watch NBA games on TV only wish we could jump as high and so we buy shoes that the best players in the world wear to hopefully get some "air". Over the years players like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant have taken dunking and basketball shoes to a new level. Air Jordan basketball shoes used to dominate the market but as he retired a few years ago now new players have emerged like Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James who have shoe endorsement deals and fans flock to their brands instead. Jordan basketball shoes still sell well, but not like they used to. There were stories of inner city kids killing other kids for their Air Jordans at one point. New basketball shoes often are priced at $150 or more for the latest styles and the top makers are Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Puma, Air Jordan, and Converse. Nike basketball shoes are the #1 selling brand overall and you can get them online or in your local shoe store.

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We visited Eastbay.com to see which basketball shoes are selling the best and which styles are most popular among basketball players. The top sellers are Adidas Men's 1.1 B ($249.99) - intelligent cushioning, Adidas Men's Crazy 8 Limited Edition ($199.99) - worn by Gilbert Arenas, Jordan Men's XXI ($129.99), Nike Men's Air Max 360 Basketball ($159.99), Jordan Men's Retro XIV ($100), Nike Men's Air Zoom Huarache ($139.99), Jordan Women's Retro 5 ($134.99), Nike Men's Zoom Kobe 1 ($100) - Kobe Bryants shoe, Reebok Men's Answer IX Pump LE ($130), Nike Lebron James III, Adidas Garnett II - Kevin Garnetts shoe. Converse makes the Converse Men's Wade 1.3 Mid Dwayne Wade basketball shoes for $100 and the Stephon Marbury Starbury shoes can be viewed online at Starbury.com. Each player represents speeds, agility, grace, power, etc. Shaquille O'Neal has his own brand of sports shoes and apparel, the Dunkman. They are hard to find on the Internet but often listed on Ebay. I good pair of basketball shoes should have excellent ankle support, be light and durable, and always give you the best comfort on the court possible. With all the starting and stopping that is required in a game of basketball, you need a pair of shoes that will give enough and grab the surface when needed. Although I have always like the look of Nike basketball shoes, I prefer to buy Reebok basketball shoes for the comfort and support I get. Also, the price of Reeboks is usually much cheaper than the competitors brands. I still own an original pair of the Allen Iverson Reeboks from almost a decade ago. One other important factor to consider when buying basketball shoes is where you will be wearing them - indoor or outdoor. Some of the treads on the bottom are meant for indoor play and are better suited for hardwood floors than pavement. RECOMMENDED - Amazon carries a good selection of Adidas basketball shoes including the Thrillrahna and Reebok basketball shoes. Get high tops, mids, and low tops - many are priced at $60 or less.

Buying Basketball Shoes:

Whenever you buy any shoe knowing your exact shoe size is critical, especially if ordering basketball shoes online. Many adults don't have to worry about shoe sizes since their feet have stopped growing, but some manufacturers of shoes make slighly bigger or smaller shoes when compared to the exact sizes of other competitors. I have tried on Size 9 in Nike only to find that an 8 1/2 in Reebok is the same, so keep that in mind. Also, unless you have actually seen the shoes on your feet, perhaps going to a store in person is a good place to start. Seeing shoes on your feet can make or break the deal in many peoples eyes. I like to go to Foot Locker at my local mall to size up shoes and see which ones not only look the best but feel the best as well. I usually try on about 4 or 5 pairs (different brands) to see which ones offer the best fit and style. I then go home and do some comparison shopping online at stores like Eastbay.com or Finishline.com. If the price is cheaper online I'll order the shoes off the Internet or if shipping is too expensive then I'll make a trip back to the local shoe store and buy the shoes through a retail shop. Some of the best deals I have ever gotten on basketball shoes come at Outlet Malls. There is one about 20 minutes down the road from my house that has a Nike store which sells off season or off size shoes at discount prices. I was able to buy a $120 pair of basketball shoes for only $39 last winter. Keep your eyes open to the ads in the Sunday paper to see which store are having sales on basketball shoes. Each week there are always specials being offered if you just look around a bit. RECOMMENDED - I started shopping online at Amazon.com for shoes since their inventory has improved dramatically in the last year or so. They carry mens basketball shoe sizes from 6 all the way up to size 20. Need wide shoes - get width sizes of 2A (AA), D (M for medium), 2E (EE or WW or XW), and 4E (EEEE). Colors range from black and white to blue, red, or multicolored. You can browse the top selling basketball shoes on Amazon.com here.

Hard to find Basketball Shoes:

The Internet is a great place to find items like shoes that are in limited editions or hard to find in regular stores. One place I like to visit periodically is Instyleshoes.com - I feel like they always carry the newest basketball shoe styles and they keep me up to date on the latest fashion or "hot sellers". The 2 types of shoes they carry are Nike Shoes and Jordan shoes. All shoes found on their site are authentic. They have Air Force Ones, Dunks, Air Jordans, Nike Shox, Nike Flightposite, K1X Chiefglider. You need to act fast if you see a pair you like because they sell out fast and often only have odd sizes left after a big sale.

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