Best Basketball Shoes For Guards

Basketball Shoes For Guards

Guards hold very important positions in the basketball game. So, the Best Basketball Shoes for guards are in great demand. Both point guards and shooting guards must be skillful in their play because they are responsible for handling the ball in the correct hands and so on. The guards during basketball games have to pass on the ball quickly. They have to be extra, conscious, and active. To remain mindfully and physically active, they need such shoes that help them stay comfortable while playing. These positions require excellent communication between teammates, and shoes are a major part of it.

Famous brands like Nike, Jordan, and Adidas have been making fantastic basketball shoes for guards. A certain number of factors are considered while choosing the best shoes for Basketball, which are reliable for the guard positions. Low-cut and mid-cut basketball shoes are a good option for this sport because they do not restrict the feet. They allow movement in all directions, and they are perfect for the guard positions.

Traction is another major factor to consider. The type of court and the design of the outer sole of basketball shoe plays a vital role in making the best of these shoes.

Cushioning and solid support provide extra strength and stability to the player’s feet, which allows them to move freely in the court. In this way, they catch up with their fellows at the correct time, and the game goes well.

In the following list, after thoroughly reviewing several models and their features, I have picked the best of them.

Comparing the Top 5 Basketball Shoes for Guards

IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS
Anta Men's KT 2
Anta Men’s KT 2
ANTA Men’s KT2 Basketball Shoes
  • Top: Mid
  • Cushioning: EVA foam
  • Material: Synthetic/Mesh
  • Outsole: Rubber
  • Midsole: Rubber
  • Size: True to size (7-10.5)
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Puma Men's Clyde Court Reform
Puma Men’s Clyde Court Reform

PUMA Men’s Clyde Court Reform Sneaker

 

  • Top: Mid
  • Cushioning: Hybrid Setup
  • Material: 100% Synthetic
  • Outsole: Rubber
  • Size: True to size (10-14)
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Under Armour curry 3
Under Armour curry 3
Under Armour Men’s Curry 3 Basketball Shoe
  • Top: Mid
  • Cushioning: Hybrid Setup
  • Material: Synthetic
  • Outsole: Rubber
  • Size: True to size(0-14)
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Puma Palace Guard Sneaker
Puma Palace Guard Sneaker

PUMA Palace Guard Sneaker

 

  • Top: Mid
  • Cushioning: Hybrid Setup
  • Material: Leather
  • Outsole: Rubber
  • Size: True to size(4-14)
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Nike KD Trey 5 VII
Nike KD Trey 5 VII
Nike KD Trey 5 VII Basketball Shoe 
  • Top: Low
  • Cushioning: Nike react cushion
  • Material: Basic textile
  • Outsole: Rubber
  • Size: True to  size(7-14)
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Basically what a point guard needs in his basketball shoe is the best response.and quick feel. If it’s heavy, it will make you a little bit slow. If the cushion is too soft, then obviously, you’re not going to feel very fast in the shoe. So cushioning isn’t the most important. But it’s nice to have goof support, especially if you’re doing a lot of movements.

1. ANTA Men’s KT 2 – Solid Lockdown And Lateral Containment

Anta Men's KT 2
Anta Men’s KT 2

Traction

They featured some excellent traction. Now, the reason this is a better setup is due to a combination of traction. Pattern pairing is always a great choice, as well as the rubber compound that they have used. Design-wise, there’s nothing special or fancy about the KT 2 outsole. So it might not look unique, But it plays special. And that’s the most important thing when we’re talking about traction.

These shoes grip the floor no matter what. Whether they were clean courts or dusty courts, the finish was bad or whatever it might be. They are relatively durable.

Cushioning

The Anta KT 2 used a basic slab of EVA foam for the cushioning. The brand is calling the Anta eve setup. It’s comfortable, and it works. There isn’t anything groundbreaking. So Anta is still using the basic midsole, But they’re now using that as a stable platform to work with. It’s a carrier, and then within the heel and forefoot, they’ve upgraded the cushion with two different density foam pads. This is how Nike and other brands use their foam cushions as well.

They usually have a phylon or EVA setup. And then whatever the different density cushion foam is, they have that within the actual dense foam for stability.So Anta went from being very basic to finally kind of catching up with what everybody else has been doing. And it’s worked out well because this is a super comfortable shoe. It was astonishing that they get more and more comfortable the more that you wear them. Impact protection is incredible, and you feel pretty quick in them.

Material

They are using Synthetic and mesh material, just like the KT one. They use mesh, mostly fuse. Well, it’s durable as hell. So you can’t complain about it as long as it does its job.

Fit

They do run a little bit snug length-wise, so slightly short with wires, they feel normal.If you are willing to break into these shoes, then just go right to size. It gives you the best kind of wrap-around your foot, even though they start tight.

Lockdown

Lockdown on these guys is solid. Again, no complaints, no gimmicks, no-frills, and nothing crazy. The KT 2 just gets the job done.

Support

Support is well rounded. At the base of the shoe, you have a shank torsional support plate.In the rear section of the shoe, you have the TPU. External heel counter adds some rigidity to the shoes that your heel is not sliding off the footbed.The overall material and a fit, they don’t stretch much. So you’re getting the best containment and possible lockdown. And then you also have outrigger as well which works well laterally, so you don’t tip over upon lateral movements.

Pros
  • Excellent traction
  • Perfect grip on every surface
  • Durable
  • Super comfortable shoe.
  • Incredible impact protection
  • Solid Lockdown
  • Best containment
Cons
  • Runs a little bit snug length-wise

2. Puma Clyde Court Reform – Fast and responsive ride

Puma Men's Clyde Court Reform
Puma Clyde Court Reform

Traction

The traction on this Puma Clyde Court Reform is the inverse of the original. This traction pattern offers excellent multi-directional coverage on multiple surfaces. And support player’s aggressive movements towards the basket.

Cushioning

Now, as far as the cushioning is concerned, PUMA uses a hybrid setup with Ignite foam and energy beads. And overall, the amount of court feel that these provided is astonishing. If you are a quick guard who wants to feel the court underneath your foot and wants a fast and responsive ride, the CCR is going to be an excellent option.The cushioning system is low on thrills, but it provides a lot of substance, which does help you focus on your game rather than what’s on your feet.

Material

In terms of durability, the upper does seem to have a very light plastic coating over the top. Its the snthetic material. But at the same time, it’s also a knitted material. And these materials are so comfortable. You put these on, and you feel like you could do anything out there on the court.

Fit

Now, usually with sneakers, they use a one-piece sock-like upper construction. If you go down, half the size, then there aren’t any layers to wrap around your foot and lock you in because Clyde Court Reform is too long.

The softening of material that Puma used here, as well as the neoprene inner beauty which wraps around your foot, honestly reminds us of a field point of view of the Air Jordan 20 excellent performance woven upper. You will have no complaints. There’s no dead space whatsoever in this shoe except for maybe a little bit of wiggle room near the toe box area.

Lockdown

The lockdown prevents feet from slamming in the front and the rest of the sneaker, which just snaps to the foot perfectly. The collar area also uses a knitted material. Still, it’s a little softer and stretches more than the rest of the upper, which is a good thing because it allows your ankle to feel free and not restricted whatsoever and makes the Clyde Court Reform feel and play more like a low top.

And a massive part of that is the unique lacing system. The two eyelets, which are on the low end of the collar area, on each side of this shoe, provide additional support. So the Clyde Court Reform has a reliable lacing system. It does its job.

Support

The support, in particular, is just isn’t going to be for everybody. Puma did sacrifice a little bit of support here in exchange for comfort, which is not going to be ideal for the more explosive or more substantial players out.

But it’s worth it because these are just so damn comfortable. The support system is a little underwhelming on side movements. But even then, It felt like the support did just enough to keep you on your feet. But if you are one of those players who prefer a secure support system because maybe you have ankle problems or whatever your case may be, these are the best thing, and these play a lot more like a low top sneaker despite its mid-top cut.

Pros
  • Translucent rubber outsole
  • Fast and responsive ride
  • Synthetic material
  • Super comfortable
  • Unique lacing system
  • Additional support
Cons
  • Extra space at toe box area
  • Poor traction

3. Under Armour Curry 3 – Pretty Supportive And Ventilated

Under Armour curry 3
Under Armour curry 3

Traction

Well, Under Armour does not do well with tractions. On a clean court, it seems too good. Because when you wipe, it has a few good stops, but then it picks up dust, and when it does pick up dust, you start sliding. If you are playing on a clean court, traction is excellent. But if you are playing on a slightly dusty court or just dusty, then it is going to suck, and you are going to be sliding all over the place. Sometimes it’s clean but very rarely. So it’s decent traction but not the best for sure.

Cushioning

The cushion on Under Armour curry 3 is a little different. You just outsource the same as the 3M, but the cushion is a little bit different. Under Armour Curry 3 has micro G along with the charged foam, and it’s very stiff. That’s just shock pad and crush pad in the heel. The court feel is okay, but it’s not even the craziest court feel like Kobe 11 and the PG1. The insole is excellent. This cushioning setup offers excellent impact protection, just like the Kyrie 3. And then heel to toe transition is incredible. It is pretty smooth.

Under Armour, shoes are rare and clunky. As far as the cushioning is concerned, it gets 8/10. Sometimes it hurts feet.

Material

All right moving on to the material, there’s just the mesh material, and then there’s a lot of fuse overlay in the toe for durability. On the medial side, for some reason, these have the innovative toe tracks, so the materials are incredible. These are the decent ones for you. It feel soft at first but gets a little stiff after a few days.

The one thing that under Armour did well is the little pillowing effect at the upper, which makes it a little more comfortable on your foot. These are not super thick or super minimal shoes. These are kind of normal. But it’s nice to have that little comfort around your foot.

Fit

So now moving on to fit. Go down half the size because there’s a lot of toe room. Its not wide enough.

Lockdown

The lockdown is a strong point in the shoe that these got perfect lockdown, especially with an innovative ankle strap system. You know if you even want to get nutty with it. You can put this strap away. It has its eyelids. You can run just through that and create your laces down, and it’s like an ankle bracelet. It’s crazy. So, of course, this is going to provide excellent ankle protection. And then forefoot lockdown was pretty good.

Support

These are pretty supportive shoes. The upper material is pretty durable. However, you will feel just a little high. So that’s good.

Ventilation

The tongue mesh has large holes, and it’s super ventilated. So it is okay. This curry feels pretty cool on foot.

Weight

This curry 3  weighs a seven-point 13 ounces, and that’s really light.These are durable. Especially this looks like a decent outdoor shoe. It’s not too expensive, and you know it should stand up pretty well in outdoor conditions.

Pros
  • Excellent traction on clean court
  • Great impact protection
  • Smooth heel to toe transition
  • Incredible materials
  • Perfect lockdown
  • Excellent ankle protection
  • Pretty supportive
  • Super ventilated
  • Light-weight construction
  • Decent outdoor shoe
Cons
  • Fits half a size down
  • Super narrow

4. Puma Palace Guard Sneaker – Best Grip And Fit

Puma Palace Guard Sneaker
Puma Palace Guard Sneaker

Traction

The bottom of Puma Palace Guard Sneaker is herringbone. It looks like a wavy pattern. So we can call it whalebone. This is something that was introduced by Adidas for the first time, and other brands ended up adopting it. This is heavy-duty and pliable traction. You would not have seen something like this on a basketball shoe in a very long time. And granted, this is not a modern-day basketball shoe.This traction pattern offers excellent grip on multiple surfaces.

Cushioning

The puma palace guard has an Eva midsole that offers responsive support, and optimal cushioning.It’s cool how retro it looks as well. In the back, it has a little pocket of Puma cell technology. It’s called the Puma Liquid Cell or Trinomic technology. This technology delivers excellent impact protection and a quick feel.

Puma reinvented this tech. It’s a mixture of a gel-like material along with hex light. It’s kind of weird. But inside the little pocket, there’s a bunch of little honeycombs. So, It like a light, but it is not the same stuff along with the rubber as well as the small heel pocket of cell technology.

The midsole itself is polyurethane and feels impressive. It feels like a light polyurethane, even though it’s dense like a softer polyurethane. So when you put these on, these feel heavy. And then inside of the shoe, you have a cool insole. It is not on the original but gives you a lot more steps and comfort, which is fantastic.

Material

It’s just made up of plenty of panels and it’s all leather. The materials that they use are beautiful. This is just like a subtle tint of cream. Its Got a little Puma logo as well as the text on the back. And then something interesting is the collar section which reminds of the headbands or the wristbands and all that stuff that people used to wear in the NBA.

Fit

Now, as far as sizing is concerned, they do fit true to size. So whatever size you typically wear in other brands. Some fit snug, but these guys do not. They fit awesome. But they don’t feel super comfortable, like as far as a modern shoe

Pros
  • Herringbone traction pattern
  • Heavy-duty and pliable traction
  • Excellent grip on multiple surfaces
  • Responsive support
  • Optimal cushioning setup
  • Quick feel
  • Fit true to size
Cons
  • Feels heavy on foot
  • Little bit warm

5. Nike KD TREY 5 Vii – Extra Support And Comfort Feel On Each Step

Nike KD Trey 5 VII
Nike KD Trey 5 VII

These are the most supportive shoe on the list. So if you’re worried about that you’re a bigger guy and you do super shifty laterals movements, then these shoes are the best. Lateral containment isn’t the best, but traction is impressive. Cushioning is entirely new, which feels like react. It’s super nice

Traction

Now besides the Nike brand new system, this basketball shoe has a cool traction pattern, which looks like it’s going to work well. It also looks like it’s capable of outdoor play because the rubber and the grooves are pretty thick. I hope that it works nicely inside because again it is translucent rubber and nine times out of 10 this stuff just works very well indoors when there’s dust present.

So this traction offers excellent grip on every surface.

Cushioning

It looks like it’s a derivative of Nike react cushion. You can see the midsole carvings, but underneath that, the renew cushion is kind of exposed in the heel. You can feel that it’s a different density of foam than the exterior carrier. It comes with the Eva carrier with the softer foam, and I think that it’s going to play nicely. However, the shape of everything is very rounded very Tippy, but I’m not sure how stable these are going to be.

The cushioning setup on this Kd trey 5 vii offers springy responsiveness and plush feel underfoot.
This setup is to deliver you comfort and support on every step. So the cushioning is good.

Materials

Now the materials It just got are basic textiles. I do think that these are going to work well. And it’s going to offer a zero break-in time. For very often I do think the shape is bizarre though mainly in the collar that’s very indeed with the little swooping in

This material offers excellent flexibility and ventilation for all-game comfort.

Fit

Now, as far as sizing is concerned, Nike KD Trey 5 VII fit true to size. So for anybody wondering, just go with your regular size.

Pros
  • Impressive traction
  • Extra supportive shoe
  • Great for a bigger guy
  • Excellent super shifty laterals movements
  • Springy responsiveness and plush feel underfoot
  • Comfort feel on every step
  • Excellent flexibility and ventilation
Cons
  • Poor lateral containment
  • Soft cushioning

Helpful Information and Guide About Basketball Shoes For Guards

Here, I have covered the ten best products available in the market. After in-depth research, I have mentioned every single aspect of the sneaker, such as traction, cushioning, material, fit, lockdown, support, look, and style professionally and other compulsory matters.

Quality

The quality should be your number one priority when choosing a basketball shoe, especially for guards. The quality is the primary factor in a sneaker, which allows you to play on the court without any struggle.

Materials

Materials are so necessary, due to its impacts on product quality. Check carefully about the material used at the upper, low case, the sole part of the shoe.
Nowadays, there are a variety of materials available. In the past, leather was the best material available. However, the leather felt bulky and heavy weighted, so now mesh, or synthetic material has been introduced, to make you feel much ease and comfortable in the sneaker. Look and style

Durability

The durability of the sneaker depends on its construction; If the product holds proper and robust construction, then it may last longer. You should be more careful if you are a regular outdoor player, because sneakers may worn out in the first few weeks if you don’t get the most durable sneakers. Buy the sneaker according to your court type. Generally, the materials play a perfect role to offer durability.

Traction

The traction should be durable and feature excellent grip and stopping power on the court so that you don’t get slips and slides on the court. Generally, the traction is made out of rubber; if you play outdoor, then the traction must be thick. The herringbone traction pattern is known as the best traction nowadays. It offers multi-directional movements on the court.

Cushioning

The low profile cushioning is considered as the best cushioning setup for guards. It offers a low and responsive ride on the ground. Also, you get better court feel, a good amount of shock absorption, and adequate support. Cushioning setup is also responsible for providing you a comfortable ride.

Price

Maintaining a budget is essential for all of us. So fix your budget first and then choose the one from a variety of basketball shoes available in the market. You can get high-performance sneakers at 75 USD. Basically, the leather material products are expensive, but rubber textile is a little bit cheap. So go for the rubber textile if you are a low on budget.

Size

First of all, measure your shoe size accurately to get the right size shoe. The sneaker should fit your feet nicely so that you don’t get uncomfortable on the court. Under Armour, sneakers are well known for offering the right fit to your foot. However, in the product reviews, I have mentioned every single pros and cons of the sneaker.

On-court Performance

The guards need to jump high and move more explosively, so you need a basketball shoe that gives an excellent jumping and running performance on the court.

Look and style

If you go for the look and styling on the sneaker first, then you are not going to get excellent traction and impact protection. Also, they are much expensive and perform poorly on the court. However, it depends on your preference. If you are a serious basketball player and want to outperform well on the court, then I recommend you do not go for the looks and style of the sneaker.
I recommend buying a product that can help you to perform fantastic on the court.

What is the best basketball shoe in terms of every position player?

Point guard

Point Guards are the ones who need more running skills and self-control on the court. If you are a point guard, then you need to choose the best guard shoe offering quick feel and stability on the court.

Shooting guard

These players are the ones who use new tactics and unique methods to increase their scores. They do not only score, but also they oppose the opponent players from scoring. So if you are a shooting guard, you need a basketball sneaker offering you high jump and grip on the court.

Center position

Center position players have to play forward and backward both. A center takes the ball forward and pass the one who has the maximum chance of scoring. He needs to dribble and make steep movements on the court, so he needs the best grip, coziness, and ankle support in the sneaker.

Small forward

A small forward player is the one who plays on all court. He/she needs more opposing skills to stop the opponent’s player from scoring. If you are a small forward player, then you need an excellent performance shoe for this position.

Power forward

The power forward players are the ones who need to get to the hoop too quickly to score. Power forward player position is also known as the second protected pillar in the basketball. So if you are a that type of player, you need the basketball shoe offering you the smooth and quick running performance, grip, and impact protection on the court.

FAQ’s

What are the best basketball shoes for point guards?

The best basketball for guards are the one which offer you quality, top class material, durability, traction and low profile cushioning.

Can i use shoes without a lease to play basketball?

I’m sorry to say, but it would be absurd if you use shoes without a lease. Because without the lease, you lose all installed features in the sneaker. By doing so you cannot get a proper and comfortable feel on your foot.

Conclusion

With my full capability and thorough research, I have reviewed the top 10 products. I shortlisted the products by keeping in view the customer and expert reviews. If you don’t know how to choose the best basketball shoes for guards, I have also listed buyers guide, so you don’t get into any hassle.

Basketball requires a person to be physically active to a great extent. So, the shoes used during this game are an important part of player’s uniform or attire. They are considered the best after concerning many of their features and other factors.

The Best Basketball Shoes for Guards must provide a great strength to player’s feet as they have to pass on the ball quickly. So, they are made up of good fabric material and a proper lacing system. Lacing system keeps the feet in the shape if tied correctly. It supports the feet, and it also prevents ankle injuries and sprains.

Another factor is forefoot stability. It maximizes the movement of a player and helps the player to communicate properly. Such shoes have a great cushioning inside, which gives the feet flexibility and comfort. Other comforting techniques like air zoom technology and padding’s are also used in these shoes. These factors increase the durability and breathability of the entire pair and increase their worth.

The sole and heel portion of these shoes are made while keeping the guard positions in mind. For instance, they are made of a breathable mesh, and they have soft padding inside. These features increase the mobility of a player overall.

Likewise, these shoes also have some cons. Sometimes, they are too tight, and they decrease the movement. Also, they can be a bit expensive as they are specific.