Current shoe rotation, how is it?
I’m a 27 hears old, 6’0 180 lbs Center/PF slasher with a wide foot due to a tailor’s bunion (TTS is 12-12.5, always get a 13 due to fit) with an unhealthy obsession of playing in/experiencing as many shoes as I can in a lifetime. I’ll list down all the shoes and sizes (size recos as well) in the photos as well as shoes I have played in but either traded away or sold!
Current Shoe Rotation: Mb.03 CNY size US 13 - wish Puma did a 12.5 but this will do. Could maybe have fit in a 12 with a break in. Played twice in them and had to replace the insole since it was slippery af and my toes would smash to the front due to space from sizing up. Love the traction (no squeak tho), wish it had more padding in the ankle area but overall good cushioning for me and doesnt feel heavy or bulky. Doesnt feel hot during playing but gets a but wet after playing.
Book 1 Halloween size US 13 - again, wish I could find a 12.5 since 12 was too snug for me lengthwise (i like a bit of space in front). Love the ankle padding as well as the traction that bites and squeaks hard. Never had problem With dust pick up even with a semi-translucent outsole. Relegated this to outdoor though since I love wearing it casually as it’s damn comfier than my dunk and jordan lows. Could do better in the ventilation department though too, you can definitely feel heat getting trapped.
Tatum 1 Barbershop size US 12 - one of my favorite shoes ever, it’s lightweight and fits well with my foot surprisingly. Can definitely fee the zoom in front, altho my colorway gets dirty really easily lol. Traction was okay on the forefoot, but heel cushion and traction is non-existent. It’s great with a Move Game Day insole though, gives me enough cushion. Sadly, there is a lack of padding on the ankle area for me and I’ve unfortunately mildy sprained my ankle here twice (did step on a foot though, and another was it rolled when I tried to lightly kick a ball out of the court at a start of a pick up session)
Harden vol 6 size US 12.5 - my very first 12.5 shoe, and it fits amazingly well lengthwise and widthwise. Comfortable for me and I love the ankle pillows, i wish every shoe had that if not padding lol. This is my go to outdoor shoe as it is a powerhouse in terms of durability and traction (slips on wooden courts tho weirdly enough). Cushioning though i’m 50-50. Boost should be comfy but combined with how heavy it is, and maybe it bottoming out (maybe, not sure how to check), I sometimes get shin splints the day after playing (i regularly play 2-3 hours on smooth, asphalt courts here in the Philippines).
Adidas N3XT L3V3L size US 12 - wish this was a 12.5 again, but overall never had a problem fit wise. Kind of a b*tch to put in but I LOVE how it hugs my foot and feels 1:1. Traction was amazing, and support felt great enough. Gotta wear very high socks though since the tongue is very long and high. Ankle support felt great too with a substantial heel counter, which is pretty hard. Cushioning is enough since I slash and rebound, but definitely not plush enough for bigs imo. One of my faves as well! Sad that it’s getting sole separation though since its old.
Jordan 38 low size US 13 - i always make the mistake of getting a bigger size in jordan brand when they really fit me TTS and is wide enough all the time lol. I get a bit of heel slip here and some space on the forefoot, but I love the way it looks and plays. Traction is great, and cushioning is definitely there with the full length zoom. You can however definitely feel the x plate digging in a bit on your arch especially when new, but it doesnt bother me as much now. Definitely wish I got a size 12, stick to your TTS! Also wish the ankle padding was more padded for the price point and for being a jordan freaking brand.
Jordan 32 size US 13 - one of my latest pickups, got a very playable pair and I definitely understand why ppl love unlocked zoom lol. Fits pretty well and flyknit done this way is AMAZING. Miss these good ol days of shoes. Traction was pretty good too on my end, altho it is a pretty heavy shoe, and a but clunky with a very stiff heel counter imo.
Anta shockwave 5 pro v2 size US 13 - Anta fits me at 12 or 12.5, and these did feel a bit long imo. Honestly aside from the fossil design, i dont have much to say. Traction was good but nothing special. Cushioning was okay, didnt really feel soft or hard, good for outdoors. Hated how from the very padded heel with pillows from the v1 they downgraded to nothing for the v2, and the tongue is atrociously thin. Will be getting rid of this as we speak for a different pair.
Lebron witness 8 size US 13 - one of the most comfy shoes uppers wise for my tailor’s bunion due to the quilted design on the forefoot. Aside from that, felt plasticky all around. Light though and decent step in comfort. Traction was a bit iffy tho, not the most reliable, it didnt give me enough confidence altho i never did slip or anything. Ankle lockdown also felt a bit sus, not giving me enough confidence in a secure lockdown. Got it for cheap tho, good gym shoe lol
Kobe 11 all star size US 13 - one of my absolute fave shoe, I play in these regularly even if already reglued the outsole and the nike checks are already peeling off lol i like playing in the EM insole more honestly, but the combination of ankle padding and flyknit is absolute chef’s kiss. Fits a bit narrow though, and a bit long so i do have some dead space in front. Man the materials tho still love it. Traction also is good for me even on a dusty court, and i cant even imagine how the solid outsole feels. Wish i got a pair still. Gotta double knot the laces though since it gets untangled easily.
Kobe 11 EM size US 13 - same as above, altho lighter, more breathable due to the materials. Heel padding isnt as thick tho, so I still prefer the knit.
Foamposite size US 12 - just played in these for the fun of it, traction was good and cushioning was there. Really gets hot tho and a bit heavy, would really not super recommend anymore lol. Wish I got a 12.5!
Kobe 5 protro size US 13 (S2 batch) - my first ever rep shoe, fits 1:1 and one of my absolute faves as well. Good lockdown, amazing traction. VERY well padded ankle support. Wish I got a pair of real ones to play in as these have been an absolute unit.
Shoes I played in but sold/traded away:
Kd 15 size US 13 - pretty comfortable with good traction, runs narrow and long though. Heel slip was terrible, but a runner’s knot did fix it.
Li ning WOW 808 3 size US 13 - amazing traction and fit, great durability as well. Just hated how the design for their drop in kind of makes me over pronate more, and I suffered shin splints galore. Aside from that, it was a great overall shoe! I think future iterations were even better, would love to play in some eventually.
361 AG3 pro size US 12 - beast of a shoe in terms of support, lockdown and traction. Sits a but high on the ground tho, and somewhat heavy. Not too breathable as well. Would have loved to play in these longer but sadly the AG logo on the forefoot sat right on top of my tailor’s bunion and would aggravate it as I play, so I had to give em up.
Harden stepback 3 size US 13 - these fit huge, would definitely have fit in a 12. Cushioning was lackluster, but fit and traction were pretty good for a budget shoe. Decently comfortable for gym too.
Dame 4 size US 12 - one of the good mid cut shoes I’ve had, with great traction and a great fit. Cushioning was decent, but more on the minimal side.
Jordan 37 low size US 12.5 - fits so long that my toes would smash the front no matter what I wear, and if I went size 12 there would be the carbon fiber digging on my arch. Bounciest shoe i’ve had tho, the double stacked forefoot was AMAZING. Traction was okay too, but a few wears and the carbon fiber had some hairline cracks already.
Kobe 6 Protro size US 13 (S2 batch) - was too long for me, so a 12.5 would’ve been great. Overall, wasn’t too impressed on this, preferred the 5’s more. Traction was okay, but slippery as hell on dust courts. Lockdown was pretty good though.
Lebron 20 size US 13 - a 12.5 would’ve been good but 13 was okay for me since the materials were accommodating enough. One of the best tractions and cushioning I’ve ever played in, comfortable and bouncy. Heel slip was a problem though, wishing it had another lace hole. The dealbreaker for me though was the thin as hell tongue, always had irritation and soreness on my ankle since I had to crank down the laces to secure my foot. Would definitely love to play in one again eventually.
Tatum 2 size US 12 - got to play in em for a Nike event, but didn’t get to win the contest to get them for free. Fits comfortably well, and seemed more substantial and stable than the 1s. Traction was terrible though, slipped a lot on a not so dusty court. Definitely didn’t miss a lot on these.
Nike Freak 5 size US 13 - lightweight and comfortable off the bat, but same problem with the AG3 is that the huge check would sit on top of my tailor’s bunion and aggravate it. Outsole on the heel also surprisingly chipped off pretty quick. It’s thick so it’ll last longer but still not as durable as I expected.
Not sold but retired as a ball shoe:
Kobe 9 elite high size US 14 - definitely too big, but loved the chance to put a full length zoom unit below the drop in for better cushion. Only reason I stopped using it was the outsole was old, chipped off and hardened to the point that it couldnt bite on any surface anymore :( the knit on these put the protro releases to shame, these felt amazing, while the new ones are scratchy and plasticky.
Apologies on the long post but I do love me my shoes!
Some shoes on the way today are mb01 lows and trae young 3s! Will review in the comment section once I get to play in em.
Top 5 shoes for me would be: Kobe 11 Kobe 5 protro Tatum 1 (even if support and cushioning isn’t the best) Mb03 Adidas N3XT L3V3L
AMA on the comment section below if you have questions to any specific shoe I’ve played in! Or some recommendations if you have any!
I’m a 27 hears old, 6’0 180 lbs Center/PF slasher with a wide foot due to a tailor’s bunion (TTS is 12-12.5, always get a 13 due to fit) with an unhealthy obsession of playing in/experiencing as many shoes as I can in a lifetime. I’ll list down all the shoes and sizes (size recos as well) in the photos as well as shoes I have played in but either traded away or sold!
Current Shoe Rotation: Mb.03 CNY size US 13 - wish Puma did a 12.5 but this will do. Could maybe have fit in a 12 with a break in. Played twice in them and had to replace the insole since it was slippery af and my toes would smash to the front due to space from sizing up. Love the traction (no squeak tho), wish it had more padding in the ankle area but overall good cushioning for me and doesnt feel heavy or bulky. Doesnt feel hot during playing but gets a but wet after playing.
Book 1 Halloween size US 13 - again, wish I could find a 12.5 since 12 was too snug for me lengthwise (i like a bit of space in front). Love the ankle padding as well as the traction that bites and squeaks hard. Never had problem With dust pick up even with a semi-translucent outsole. Relegated this to outdoor though since I love wearing it casually as it’s damn comfier than my dunk and jordan lows. Could do better in the ventilation department though too, you can definitely feel heat getting trapped.
Tatum 1 Barbershop size US 12 - one of my favorite shoes ever, it’s lightweight and fits well with my foot surprisingly. Can definitely fee the zoom in front, altho my colorway gets dirty really easily lol. Traction was okay on the forefoot, but heel cushion and traction is non-existent. It’s great with a Move Game Day insole though, gives me enough cushion. Sadly, there is a lack of padding on the ankle area for me and I’ve unfortunately mildy sprained my ankle here twice (did step on a foot though, and another was it rolled when I tried to lightly kick a ball out of the court at a start of a pick up session)
Harden vol 6 size US 12.5 - my very first 12.5 shoe, and it fits amazingly well lengthwise and widthwise. Comfortable for me and I love the ankle pillows, i wish every shoe had that if not padding lol. This is my go to outdoor shoe as it is a powerhouse in terms of durability and traction (slips on wooden courts tho weirdly enough). Cushioning though i’m 50-50. Boost should be comfy but combined with how heavy it is, and maybe it bottoming out (maybe, not sure how to check), I sometimes get shin splints the day after playing (i regularly play 2-3 hours on smooth, asphalt courts here in the Philippines).
Adidas N3XT L3V3L size US 12 - wish this was a 12.5 again, but overall never had a problem fit wise. Kind of a b*tch to put in but I LOVE how it hugs my foot and feels 1:1. Traction was amazing, and support felt great enough. Gotta wear very high socks though since the tongue is very long and high. Ankle support felt great too with a substantial heel counter, which is pretty hard. Cushioning is enough since I slash and rebound, but definitely not plush enough for bigs imo. One of my faves as well! Sad that it’s getting sole separation though since its old.
Jordan 38 low size US 13 - i always make the mistake of getting a bigger size in jordan brand when they really fit me TTS and is wide enough all the time lol. I get a bit of heel slip here and some space on the forefoot, but I love the way it looks and plays. Traction is great, and cushioning is definitely there with the full length zoom. You can however definitely feel the x plate digging in a bit on your arch especially when new, but it doesnt bother me as much now. Definitely wish I got a size 12, stick to your TTS! Also wish the ankle padding was more padded for the price point and for being a jordan freaking brand.
Jordan 32 size US 13 - one of my latest pickups, got a very playable pair and I definitely understand why ppl love unlocked zoom lol. Fits pretty well and flyknit done this way is AMAZING. Miss these good ol days of shoes. Traction was pretty good too on my end, altho it is a pretty heavy shoe, and a but clunky with a very stiff heel counter imo.
Anta shockwave 5 pro v2 size US 13 - Anta fits me at 12 or 12.5, and these did feel a bit long imo. Honestly aside from the fossil design, i dont have much to say. Traction was good but nothing special. Cushioning was okay, didnt really feel soft or hard, good for outdoors. Hated how from the very padded heel with pillows from the v1 they downgraded to nothing for the v2, and the tongue is atrociously thin. Will be getting rid of this as we speak for a different pair.
Lebron witness 8 size US 13 - one of the most comfy shoes uppers wise for my tailor’s bunion due to the quilted design on the forefoot. Aside from that, felt plasticky all around. Light though and decent step in comfort. Traction was a bit iffy tho, not the most reliable, it didnt give me enough confidence altho i never did slip or anything. Ankle lockdown also felt a bit sus, not giving me enough confidence in a secure lockdown. Got it for cheap tho, good gym shoe lol
Kobe 11 all star size US 13 - one of my absolute fave shoe, I play in these regularly even if already reglued the outsole and the nike checks are already peeling off lol i like playing in the EM insole more honestly, but the combination of ankle padding and flyknit is absolute chef’s kiss. Fits a bit narrow though, and a bit long so i do have some dead space in front. Man the materials tho still love it. Traction also is good for me even on a dusty court, and i cant even imagine how the solid outsole feels. Wish i got a pair still. Gotta double knot the laces though since it gets untangled easily.
Kobe 11 EM size US 13 - same as above, altho lighter, more breathable due to the materials. Heel padding isnt as thick tho, so I still prefer the knit.
Foamposite size US 12 - just played in these for the fun of it, traction was good and cushioning was there. Really gets hot tho and a bit heavy, would really not super recommend anymore lol. Wish I got a 12.5!
Kobe 5 protro size US 13 (S2 batch) - my first ever rep shoe, fits 1:1 and one of my absolute faves as well. Good lockdown, amazing traction. VERY well padded ankle support. Wish I got a pair of real ones to play in as these have been an absolute unit.
Shoes I played in but sold/traded away:
Kd 15 size US 13 - pretty comfortable with good traction, runs narrow and long though. Heel slip was terrible, but a runner’s knot did fix it.
Li ning WOW 808 3 size US 13 - amazing traction and fit, great durability as well. Just hated how the design for their drop in kind of makes me over pronate more, and I suffered shin splints galore. Aside from that, it was a great overall shoe! I think future iterations were even better, would love to play in some eventually.
361 AG3 pro size US 12 - beast of a shoe in terms of support, lockdown and traction. Sits a but high on the ground tho, and somewhat heavy. Not too breathable as well. Would have loved to play in these longer but sadly the AG logo on the forefoot sat right on top of my tailor’s bunion and would aggravate it as I play, so I had to give em up.
Harden stepback 3 size US 13 - these fit huge, would definitely have fit in a 12. Cushioning was lackluster, but fit and traction were pretty good for a budget shoe. Decently comfortable for gym too.
Dame 4 size US 12 - one of the good mid cut shoes I’ve had, with great traction and a great fit. Cushioning was decent, but more on the minimal side.
Jordan 37 low size US 12.5 - fits so long that my toes would smash the front no matter what I wear, and if I went size 12 there would be the carbon fiber digging on my arch. Bounciest shoe i’ve had tho, the double stacked forefoot was AMAZING. Traction was okay too, but a few wears and the carbon fiber had some hairline cracks already.
Kobe 6 Protro size US 13 (S2 batch) - was too long for me, so a 12.5 would’ve been great. Overall, wasn’t too impressed on this, preferred the 5’s more. Traction was okay, but slippery as hell on dust courts. Lockdown was pretty good though.
Lebron 20 size US 13 - a 12.5 would’ve been good but 13 was okay for me since the materials were accommodating enough. One of the best tractions and cushioning I’ve ever played in, comfortable and bouncy. Heel slip was a problem though, wishing it had another lace hole. The dealbreaker for me though was the thin as hell tongue, always had irritation and soreness on my ankle since I had to crank down the laces to secure my foot. Would definitely love to play in one again eventually.
Tatum 2 size US 12 - got to play in em for a Nike event, but didn’t get to win the contest to get them for free. Fits comfortably well, and seemed more substantial and stable than the 1s. Traction was terrible though, slipped a lot on a not so dusty court. Definitely didn’t miss a lot on these.
Nike Freak 5 size US 13 - lightweight and comfortable off the bat, but same problem with the AG3 is that the huge check would sit on top of my tailor’s bunion and aggravate it. Outsole on the heel also surprisingly chipped off pretty quick. It’s thick so it’ll last longer but still not as durable as I expected.
Not sold but retired as a ball shoe:
Kobe 9 elite high size US 14 - definitely too big, but loved the chance to put a full length zoom unit below the drop in for better cushion. Only reason I stopped using it was the outsole was old, chipped off and hardened to the point that it couldnt bite on any surface anymore :( the knit on these put the protro releases to shame, these felt amazing, while the new ones are scratchy and plasticky.
Apologies on the long post but I do love me my shoes!
Some shoes on the way today are mb01 lows and trae young 3s! Will review in the comment section once I get to play in em.
Top 5 shoes for me would be: Kobe 11 Kobe 5 protro Tatum 1 (even if support and cushioning isn’t the best) Mb03 Adidas N3XT L3V3L
AMA on the comment section below if you have questions to any specific shoe I’ve played in! Or some recommendations if you have any!