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The NBA has strict rules regarding players' appearances, including the brand of shoes they wear. While Nike has dominated the league for decades, with 65.1% of players wearing the brand in the 2022-23 season, stars have increasingly signed with other brands, such as Jordan, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, 361, and more. In the 2023-24 season, the Nike Kobe 6 was the most popular shoe, with players choosing to wear the shoe 3035 times. Kobe Bryant's signature line accounted for four of the top 10 most popular basketball shoes in the NBA that season.
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What You'll Learn
Most popular shoes by position
The choice of basketball shoes is a very personal one, and while the sport traditionally had fixed positions with corresponding shoe designs, this is no longer the case. Lighter players may choose a certain shoe to play centre, while heavier players might opt for a different style. Agile guards need a more intimate foot connection with the court, while powerful forwards and centres require more cushioning.
That said, during the 2022-23 NBA season, the Nike Kobe 6 Protro was the most popular shoe by far. Twenty-nine players wore them, and they were the leading shoe model in terms of time logged (40,884 minutes), recorded score (18,772 points), rebounds (7,707), assists (4,480), steals (1,316), and blocks (624). They were also the most popular shoe across all positions: guards (chosen 1,641 times), forwards (1,499 times), and centres (380 times).
The second most popular shoe model was the Nike PG 6, worn by 28 players and with 35,463 minutes played. The third most popular shoe was the Nike LeBron XX, with 33,855 minutes played.
Other popular choices include the Nike Air Zoom GT Cut, Nike Kyrie 7, Nike KD 15, Adidas Dame 8, and Air Jordan 37.
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Most popular shoes by minutes played
During the 2022-23 NBA season, the most popular basketball shoe by minutes played was the Nike Kobe 6 Protro, with players logging 40,884 minutes in the iconic model. This was followed by the Nike PG 6, worn for a total of 35,453 minutes, and the Nike LeBron XX, worn for 33,855 minutes.
The Nike Kobe 6 Protro was worn by 29 players during the 2022-23 season, with 28 players choosing the Nike PG 6. The Kobe 6 Protro is considered one of the best basketball shoes ever, delivering stability and support, allowing players to move confidently around the court. The shoe was designed by Kobe Bryant himself and released in 2010, and despite its age, the technology it incorporates remains impressive.
The Nike PG 6 is the signature sneaker of Paul George, who even ditched his own shoes in favour of the Kobe 6 during the season. George's line was the third most popular among NBA players, up from the previous season.
The Nike LeBron XX has some impressive stats of its own, with 7,235 rebounds, 3,105 assists, 998 steals, and 827 blocks.
While Nike remains the most popular brand among NBA players, Kobe Bryant's shoe line remains a fan favourite, with four of his signature shoes featuring in the top 10 most popular basketball shoes in the NBA.
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Signature shoe lines
Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike has been incredibly popular, with four of the top 10 most popular shoes in the NBA for the 2023-24 season coming from this collaboration. The Nike Kobe 6, in particular, has been a favourite, with players choosing this model 3035 times during the season. The shoe, designed by Bryant himself, offers both stability and support, allowing players to move confidently. The Nike Kobe IV Protro is another popular model, providing a responsive and aesthetic basketball shoe with a soft and springy foam midsole.
Kevin Durant's signature line with Nike is also noteworthy. The Nike KD 16, an upgrade from the previous version, offers excellent traction and cushioning. The Nike KD 15 was the fifth most-worn shoe in the NBA for the 2022-23 season, with players logging 24,960 minutes in this model.
Paul George's signature line with Nike has also gained traction among players. The Nike PG 6 was the second most popular shoe for the 2022-23 season, with players spending 35,453 minutes in them. George himself even opted for the Nike Kobe 6 over his own line for a portion of the season.
Kyrie Irving's signature line with Nike has been another prominent choice, with the Kyrie 7, Kyrie Low 5, and Kyrie Infinity contributing to its popularity.
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Shoe brand market share
During the 2022-23 NBA season, Nike dominated the market, with 65.1% of players wearing the brand. This was followed by Adidas, with 10.8% of players choosing their shoes. Jordan came in third place with 7.4% of the market share, while Puma basketball shoes were worn by 3.3% of players. The remaining 13.4% of the market was made up of smaller brands, including Under Armour, which was worn by 2.8% of players.
Nike's popularity is largely due to Kobe Bryant's signature line, which accounted for four of the top 10 most popular basketball shoes in the NBA. The Nike Kobe 6 was the most popular shoe, with players choosing to wear it 3035 times during the 2023-24 season. The Nike Kobe 6 is known for its stability and support, and new colourways are set to be released in 2025. The Nike KD 16 was another popular choice, with players wearing it for 33,407 minutes on the court.
While Nike maintained its dominance in the 2023-24 season, its popularity decreased by 5.7% compared to the previous year. This can be attributed to the emergence of new brands, such as Jordan, Adidas, Puma, New Balance, and 361, which have signed deals with NBA players.
In terms of specific models, the Nike Kobe 6 was the most popular choice among guards, forwards, and centers. The Nike PG 6 was the second-most popular shoe, with players spending 35,453 minutes in this model. The Nike Kobe IV Protro was the third most popular shoe, with 1216 players choosing it.
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Shoe model logged time and score
During the 2022-23 NBA season, the Nike Kobe 6 Protro was the most popular basketball shoe model, with 29 players choosing to wear them. This model also had the highest logged time, with players spending a total of 40,884 minutes on the court, which amounts to more than 681 hours. During the same season, the Nike Kobe 6 model was also the most popular shoe by blocks.
The Nike Kobe 6 Protro was followed by the Nike PG 6, worn by 28 players during the 2022-23 season. This model was the second-most popular shoe in terms of logged time, with players spending 35,453 minutes in them.
The Nike Kobe 5 Protro was the fourth most-worn basketball shoe model during the season, with players spending 26,541 minutes in the iconic hoop shoe.
The Nike KD 15 was the fifth-most worn shoe in the NBA during the season, with players logging 24,960 minutes in the performance model.
The Nike Kobe 6 model was the most popular shoe by points scored, with players scoring 25,857 points.
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Frequently asked questions
The most popular basketball shoes in the NBA are the Nike Kobe 6, with players choosing to wear the shoe 3035 times during the 2023-24 season.
Other popular basketball shoes in the NBA include the Nike KD 16, the Nike Kobe IV Protro, the Nike PG 6, and the Nike Kobe 5 Protro.
Nike is the most popular brand of basketball shoes in the NBA, with 65.1% of players wearing their shoes during the 2022-23 season. Other popular brands include Adidas, Jordan, Puma, Under Armour, and New Balance.
Most NBA players (68%) wear high-top basketball shoes. 15% of players prefer mid-top shoes, while only 10% wear low-top shoes.
