Over the past decade-plus, brands based in China have made their presence known in the basketball space. In 2012, Dwyane Wade signed a then-groundbreaking signature shoe deal with Li-Ning, with whom he has since established his own brand: Way of Wade. Other brands, such as Anta, Peak, and 361 Degrees have signed notable NBA players away from major brands like Nike and adidas.
Today, many of the best performance basketball shoes come from Chinese brands, who consistently pack tons of tech and performance features into their footwear. The list below contains our favorite basketball shoes from Chinese brands.
Way of Wade 12
The Way of Wade 12 is an unexpected beast of a basketball shoe and, in my opinion, a top contender for the best shoe of 2025. It successfully blends the best aspects of the Way of Wade 10 and 11, offering a lightweight, form-fitting upper with an incredibly smooth and responsive Super Boom cushioning system. The traction is fantastic and the support is nimble yet stable, making it ideal for virtually all players. Despite the synthetic materials, the on-court performance and 1:1 fit are superb. Read the full review. Price: $225
Li-Ning Gamma 2
It’s maybe the most expensive shoe on the market right now, but the Li-Ning Gamma 2 packs an insane amount of performance into one of the lightest silhouettes we’ve ever seen. The Super BOOM cushion and carbon fiber spring plate make these ultra-explosive, and the fit is killer (as long as you don’t have wide feet). Read the full review. Price: $400+
Anta Kai 3
The Anta Kai 3 is Kyrie Irving’s best shoe with Anta – and maybe the best shoe of his career, period. It’s a well-rounded shoe that has all the features you should expect from a Kyrie sneaker: a rounded outsole, tons of court feel, and a lightweight construction. The cushion is also solid in its own right, and the fit is one of the best to hit the market in years. Read the full review. Price: $135
Way of Wade All City 14
The Way of Wade All City 14 is a fantastic alternative to the Way of Wade 12, if you’re looking for similar performance for less money. This is an all-around banger of a shoe with excellent fit, cushion, and traction – and it’s great for outdoor use as well. Read the full review. Price: $149
Anta KT 10
This is perhaps the most well-rounded shoe of 2024. Traction is elite, the cushioning is bouncy yet stable underfoot, and the modern synthetic build gets the job done. Then there is the price. $130 is very reasonable for a basketball shoe nowadays; in this case, it is a steal. It’s Chris’ favorite shoe of the year for a reason. The worst that can be said about the Anta KT 10 is that it will require some break-in time, but once it has loosened up a bit and molded to your foot, it is an elite performer on court. Read the full review. Price: $130
Serious Player Only Game 1 Low
The Game 1 Low takes all the good stuff from the Game 1 Mid – excellent traction, fit and support – and sheds the excess weight. These are lean, mean, and feature SPO’s awesome Quick 2.0 drop-in midsoles. Read the full review. Price: $180
361 Joker 2/Joker 2 GT
The Joker 2 makes improvements upon the Joker 1, and the GT version is an elite, explosive performer. The GT features upgraded cushion and breathability, along with carbon fiber and an added forefoot spring plate. Read the full review. Price: $149
EQLZ 247 NXT
The EQLZ 247 is a good shoe in its own right, but the NXT version turns things up a few notches. These have excellent traction, fit, and support, and the cushion is low to the ground with an incredibly smooth heel–to-toe transition. If you want a shoe that feels quick without compromising support, this is the shoe for you. Read the full review. Price: $120
Are Chinese basketball shoes high quality?
Not only are Chinese basketball shoe brands legit, they make some of the best performing shoes on the market. The build quality and tech used in these shoes is on par or even greater than what we get from popular brands in the United States.
Where can I purchase basketball shoes from Chinese brands?
These shoes are rarely found in stores in the United States and other Western countries, so buying online is usually going to be your only option. If you’re based in Asia, you’ll have better luck finding these shoes in stores.
How do I know my Chinese basketball shoes are legit?
All of the websites we link are trusted authentic retail stores and resellers based in Asia. We would never encourage consumers to purchase inauthentic or counterfeit items.
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