The 10 Best Shoes of the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season

The 2022-23 NBA regular season was historic, and so were the basketball shoes.

The 2022-23 NBA regular season will truly be unforgettable. Hoops fans saw superteams fall apart and long-standing records get broken. The footwear industry saw equal turnover as some signature lines came to an end while other players launched their first sneaker.

Before our focus shifts to the Play-In Tournaments starting tomorrow, we must reflect on the season in sneakers. Below is the official FanNation Kicks list of the ten best performance basketball shoes worn on the court during the regular season.

Top 10 Shoes of NBA Season

10. Nike Kyrie 8

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It would be impossible to tell the story of the season in sneakers without starting with the breakup between Kyrie Irving and Nike. The writing had been on the wall for several months before Irving's controversial statements fast-tracked the official split.

The news hurt many fans and players because of their affinity for the Nike Kyrie line. Even worse, the drama unfolded less than a few weeks before Irving's ninth signature shoe (the Nike Kyrie 8) was scheduled for launch.

Irving opted for wearing older models from his signature line and concealed the Swoosh logos with duct tape and hand-written messages. Fans will never be able to purchase the Nike Kyrie 8, but they can still buy Irving's shoes for half-price on the Nike website.

9. adidas Harden Vol. 7

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James Harden's game and signature sneaker line with adidas has become underrated over the past few years. Due to injuries, team changes, and a few mediocre sneakers, Harden faded into the back of casual fans' minds.

That all changed this season as the former NBA MVP played a pivotal role for the Philadelphia 76ers and debuted his seventh signature sneaker. A true bellwether of a shoe's popularity is if other players wear the model, and we saw plenty of college and professional hoopers wearing the adidas Harden Vol. 7.

Luckily for fans, they can choose between five colorways of Harden's newest signature shoe for $160 in adult sizes on the adidas website.

8. Nike Kobe 6 Protro

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Another season passed without a single general release from Kobe Bryant's legendary sneaker line with Nike. However, that did not stop NBA players from feasting on new, player-exclusive colorways.

One of the more notable shoes to surface on the hardwood was the Nike Kobe 6 Protro in an alternate 'Black History Month' colorway. Several players wore the unreleased hoop shoe throughout February.

Loyal fans have every right to be frustrated with the handling of the Nike Kobe line. The shoe designed for the masses has become a luxury item for the few. The silver lining is more releases are scheduled throughout 2023; let's hope they are obtainable for the average consumer.

7. Jordan Tatum 1

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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum's first signature sneaker with Jordan Brand is a late entry, but that cannot take away from its impact. Tatum had talked about the unreleased model for months before unflattering pictures of the shoe leaked online.

However, that was all forgotten when the Celtics forward debuted the Jordan Tatum 1 in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game and took home the Kobe Bryant MVP Award. The shoes look great on the court and even better in person.

There are several colorways of the Jordan Tatum 1 scheduled to launch throughout the spring and summer. Currently, fans can purchase the 'Zoo' colorway in full-family sizing on the Nike website.

6. Jordan Luka 1

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Luka Doncic will likely spend his unusually long summer break trying to forget about this past season. The Dallas Mavericks big gamble on trading for Kyrie Irving ended in disaster as the team missed the postseason entirely.

But that cannot take away from Doncic's individual performance or the stellar run of his first signature shoe. The Jordan Luka 1 was a hit among Doncic's peers in the NBA and Jordan Brand-sponsored colleges.

Most of our favorite colorways of the Jordan Luka 1 came in player-exclusive colorways designed for college teams. Luckily, fans can choose between several colorways of the Jordan Luka 1 on the Nike website.

5. Nike KD 15

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Injuries are the worst. Kevin Durant missed large swaths of the season due to multiple freak injuries. However, when Durant was on the court, he constantly made waves for the various colorways of the Nike KD 15 he had on his feet.

Sure, the Nike KD 15 launched last spring. But the shoe will be synonymous with the rollercoaster season that saw Durant move from the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns.

We will probably see Durant debut his 16th signature sneaker during the Western Conference Playoffs. In the meantime, fans can find several colorways of the Nike KD 15 at a discount on the Nike website.

4. Nike Ja 1

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You are not wrong if you're spotting a trend between the drama on and off the court with sneakers. Nike moved on from Kyrie Irving and fully embraced Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant - only the launch did not go as planned.

Morant debuted the Nike Ja 1 on Christmas Day, and a select few were able to purchase the shoes at All-Star Weekend. However, Morant's off-court drama resulted in a suspension and delayed his first signature shoe.

The Nike Ja 1 is now scheduled to launch later this month. Fans can expect several exciting colorways of the affordable and aesthetically-pleasing hoop shoe in the very near future.

3. New Balance TWO WXY v3

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New Balance set the tone before the season ever started with a full-fledged offensive coordinated with NBA Media Day. All of the New Balance-sponsored players wore different player-exclusive colorways of a never-before-seen model to their team's media day.

We would soon learn the shoe was the New Balance TWO WXY v3, as the brand released an exciting commercial featuring their star-studded roster set to the tune of Jaden Smith.

Throughout the season, players wore exciting new colorways of the New Balance TWO WXY v3 that were often released to the public. Fans can purchase the signature model for $120 on the New Balance website.

2. Curry Flow 10

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This season was a full-circle moment for Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry. Fresh off of his fourth NBA Championship, the reigning finals MVP debuted his tenth signature sneaker alongside several retro models.

Under Armour and Curry Brand cooked up several exciting colorways to celebrate important moments in the career of the greatest shooter ever. In addition, Curry and Under Armour announced a new long-term deal that reshaped basketball sneaker history.

Jokes about Curry's kicks are as played out as other memes from 2013. We cannot help casual fans still sleeping on the underrated shoes. Hoopers can shop the Curry Flow 10 and FloTro models on the Curry Brand website.

1. Nike LeBron 20

© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

It is perfectly fitting that Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James break the NBA's all-time scoring record while celebrating two decades with Nike. After a bit of a lull in his signature line, James' 20th signature sneaker came roaring back.

James and his sons teased fans with the Nike LeBron 20 last summer before the shoe officially launched in the fall. Not only did James make hoops history in the shoe, but he isn't done yet.

James and the Lakers are gearing up for another playoff run, and the Nike LeBron 20 will be present for more historic moments. Fans can shop the entire LeBron James collection on the Nike website.

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