Do shoe brands make a difference?

[apc]

I wouldn’t get a Walmart or Target shoes for any real sports activities.
But I don’t care if it’s Nike or adidas or any other brand name.

[footey]

I wear old school Cons on the black top ($19.99) and notice no difference.  My jumper is as inconsistent as ever.

Are you playing wheel chair basketball!?!?

When you say old school Cons I'm picturing these:



I use these because they're a great weight lifting shoe, with the flat, hard soles.  But my gym also has a basketball court which I'll try to hit up when I'm done lifting.  I notice a HUGE uncomfortable difference when I try to play basketball in these.  It's miserable jumping or cutting in those shoes.  So incredibly uncomfortable.  I have to put my regular sneakers back on before I hit the basketball courts at my gym, otherwise it's just miserable.

Same only low cut.

[FatKidsDad]

I have structural problems with my feet and ankles, as well as very wide feet.

Unlike other brands New Balance comes in very wide widths. They give me the excellent support I need to walk and stand pain-free. They also wear better than other brands I have tried, because I tend to round out the outer heels quickly.

Also, their sizing is very consistent from model to model. It is the only shoe I can order in my size without trying them on and be sure they will fit.

Brand may not make a difference for everyone, but they definitely do for me.

[Eja117]

Bill Simmons wrote some interesting stuff about the possible alternate history of if Grant Hill had signed with Nike instead of Fila.

[SCeltic34]

Anyone who says shoes don't matter obviously never owned a pair of these:

[coffee425]

Are we forgetting Stephon Marbury played on the NYK in a pair of $15 Starburys? Not to mention being the greatest chinese basketball player in history.
I know because I also dropped my hard earned money to buy and use those as a kid.

[Mike Pemulis]

Yes they do. If this stuff revs you up you might like this website: https://ballershoesdb.com/

[number_n9ne]

Are we forgetting Stephon Marbury played on the NYK in a pair of $15 Starburys? Not to mention being the greatest chinese basketball player in history.
I know because I also dropped my hard earned money to buy and use those as a kid.

Did you see the rereleased them? Now I kinda want a pair 

[Redz]

[rondofan1255]

Celtics' Gordon Hayward is “close” to signing a multi-year deal with Nike, per @ASherrodblakely

https://twitter.com/brkicks/status/1043544289064771584?s=21

[Kaz]

I’ve always messed up my ankles when wearing Nikes, so I don’t wear any Nike shoes anymore.  Now that I’m more apt to match brands I’ve pretty much gotten rid of all Nike in my wardrobe in favor of Adidas because their shoes fit me better

[bellerephon]

It certainly does matter, but deciding which shoe is the right one is an individual matter. What works for one guy won't work for another.

[jambr380]

I wouldn't necessarily say the brand makes a difference as much as the model within a given brand. I do a lot of running (and wear out a lot of shoes) and generally don't spend a lot on shoes; but Nike, Adidas, New Balance, and even Reebok all have a lower cost model or two that all feel pretty great and better than many of their more expensive counterparts. I think it just depends on feel for the individual.

Are we forgetting Stephon Marbury played on the NYK in a pair of $15 Starburys? Not to mention being the greatest chinese basketball player in history.
I know because I also dropped my hard earned money to buy and use those as a kid.

Man, these were the worst. I've worn running shoes as bball sneakers for most of my post-high school life (38 y/o now) and I can definitively say that I've never felt such a lack of cushion AND support from a pair of shoes on the court. Luckily Steve and Barry's took them back. I was not a satisfied customer. But, all the props in the world to Stephon for sporting these shoes at the highest level (and succeeding!) - he's a better man than I.