There are very few ambitious basketball players who have never sprained an ankle. Whether you get your ankles broken by a vicious crossover or you land on someone else's feet after a layup - it's bound to happen someday.
Fortunately, you can reduce the risk of injuring your ankles by getting a pair of basketball shoes that provide a ton of ankle support. These shoes will increase the stability of your feet and protect against excessive movements of your ankles that could result in sprains or worse ankle injuries.
Warning: If you are recovering from a severe ankle injury or if you sprain your ankles easily and frequently, getting ankle support from your shoes might not be enough.
Many NBA players get their ankles taped before every game or wear ankle braces to provide additional stability. Check out this article to learn more about ankle braces and to find out which one helped save Steph Curry's career.
The following list shows you the top 10 basketball shoes for ankle support.
The ranking was generated by summing up the findings of 1717 expert reviews of 326 different basketball shoes and ranking them by the average score they received in the category "support".
- 8.6 support rating based on 7 expert reviews
- The Air Jordan 38 takes a step forward with improved support. The traction and cushioning are also solid.
- This is a perfect shoe for players looking for maximalist containment.
- 8.5 support rating based on 7 expert reviews
- Nike's G.T. Jump 2 has one of the best cushioning setups.
- Any players who thrive with maximalist cushioning will love the Nike G.T. Jump 2.
- 8.2 support rating based on 5 expert reviews
- The Under Armour Flow FUTR X Elite provides stable cushioning and grippy traction with an innovative upper.
- This shoe is best for players who prefer a wider, more accommodating forefoot area during play.
- 7.8 support rating based on 4 expert reviews
- The Curry Spawn FloTro mixes excellent traction with responsive cushioning and a comfortable upper.
- This shoe is best for guards with fast play styles who benefit from the Flow traction.
The Top 10 Most-Supportive Basketball Shoes
1. Air Jordan 38
The Air Jordan 38 takes a step forward with improved support. The traction and cushioning are also solid.support rating based on 7 reviews
2. Nike G.T. Jump 2
Nike's G.T. Jump 2 has one of the best cushioning setups.support rating based on 7 reviews
3. Under Armour Flow FUTR X Elite
The Under Armour Flow FUTR X Elite provides stable cushioning and grippy traction with an innovative upper.support rating based on 5 reviews
4. Under Armour Curry Spawn FloTro
The Curry Spawn FloTro mixes excellent traction with responsive cushioning and a comfortable upper.support rating based on 4 reviews
Frequently asked questions about ankle support
Do high-top basketball shoes prevent ankle sprains?
High Tops wrap your ankles, so they must logically provide more ankle support than comparable low-tops, right?
Not so fast! Scientific studies have analyzed the frequency of ankle sprains of players wearing high tops versus players wearing low-top basketball shoes and couldn't find a difference. The additional collar height is not restrictive enough where it can save you from rolling your ankles. Another study showed that the fewest injuries occurred in players wearing low-top shoes and laced ankle stabilizers.
How do I find a shoe with a lot of ankle support?
If high-tops are not the solution, what else can you look for?
Lateral Outrigger
The lateral outrigger is the extension of the outsole on the lateral side that increases the width of the shoe and provides additional stability. By providing a wider base, the outrigger makes it mechanically much more difficult for your shoes to roll during hard cuts and crossovers. See an example of a lateral outrigger in the Crazy Explosive 2017:
Tough upper material and great lockdown
You want to look for a shoe that securely locks down your feet and prevents unnecessary side-to-side movement. Make sure that the shoes fit tightly and that the upper material is strong enough to hold your feet even on aggressive movements.
Odd posting. I have serious ankle support (read medical) issues and most these shoes are reviewed for their traction, NOT ankle support. Indeed many didnt even have ANY ankle support that I could tell (low cut) Splain to kme Lucy
Hey Mike, thanks for the comment.
Actually, only a very small amount of the support of a shoe depends on the part of material around your ankles. No shoe will be sturdy enough in this area to prevent you from rolling of the ankle, because nobody wants to play in a shoe that feels so restrictive. In fact, many modern high tops like the Crazy Explosive, or Curry 4 have a sock-like material around the ankles that provides zero additional support.
Great support comes from a lot of features like the outrigger of the sole, the heel cup, how well your are locked into your shoes and how little your feet move inside the shoes.
If you have serious ankle issues make sure to get an ankle brace as it’s the only way to significantly reduce the chances of an injury!
Hi Andy, awesome article. Was wondering if you had any insight on the New Kobe AD’s and how well they will provide ankle support. Thanks!
Thanks Damian! Check out https://www.thehoopsgeek.com/shoe-reviews/nike-kobe-ad-exodus/ and scroll down to the “support” section to learn more about the support of the Kobe AD Exodus.
The LeBron 11s are hands down THE BEST. I’ve completely torn my ATFL ligament and after years of search the LeBron 11s are the best due to their straps. Even when I worked for FedEx in a very rural area they worked like a charm on rocks and crazy mountain terrain. A bit heavy but well worth it if ankle support matters to you like it does to me.
What are the best basketball shoes with good ankle support for my 16yr old son who lives & breathes basketball?
He been looking at Adidas Dame 4.
Many thanks
Check out https://www.thehoopsgeek.com/shoe-reviews and sort the table by “support” to find the most supportive basketball shoes.
Are you able to suggest some good basketball shoes/boots that won’t aggravate my achilles tendonitis on plantar flexion? Thank you 🙂
Sorry, but I never had any Achilles issues myself and don’t really know that to look for in this case.
I have had both of my ankles surgically “rebuilt” (best way to explain it) from all the ankle injuries I’ve had. Doctors and PT’s have told me to wear shoes that are neutral and have a lot of cushioning. If the high top doesn’t protect the ankle then what should I look for in a shoe that will protect my ankles (besides wearing ankle braces)? Also, which shoes do you recommend the most to help prevent injuring my ankles? Thank you