The Best Basketball Equipment for Casual Players of 2023
No matter if the occasion is a weekend pickup game or a more competitive contest, the right basketball gear is essential, even for beginners. It can be tough to know where to start, though. (Yes, there are a million functional and stylish basketball shoes out there, but for the casual player — who might need a pair that’s more all-purpose — where does one even begin?)
The good news? SPY personally vetted and tested the below products on this list, from shoes to balls and shorts.
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BEST SHOES
NOBULL Men’s Mid Court Trainer
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Basketball shoes are a hard buy because they always make a statement (“I play ball — in fact, I’m always ready to play ball”). Jordans are classics for the way they catch the eye, contrasting beautifully with a pair of jeans, chinos, or even a suit if you’re brave enough. A person doesn’t always want their basketball shoes to figure into a calculated casualness, though; sometimes they’re just for basketball, hopefully blending in with slacks or a button-down off the court.
NOBULL’s Mid Court Trainers are great basketball sneakers that are perfect for just that — they’re extremely lightweight but structured, making for a great, durable set of shoes that should survive a lot of asphalt scraping. But the colors — black, navy, gray, and army green — are matte and unassuming, pairing well with office and nightlife looks alike. At first glance, they look closer to a pair of high-tops like the classic Vans, or even a pair of Chukka boots. They’re not a replacement for the real thing, of course, but they’re competitive with the popular Cole Haan sneaker hybrid as a shoe/sneaker compromise.
BEST BUDGET SHOES
Asics Gel-Renma
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Asics hit different these days. The brand has had a bit of a glow-up thanks to collaborators like Kiko Kostadinov and Ronnie Fieg, as well as a renaissance among big-panted style kids. But for recovering athletes and Thursday night ballers, Asics will always be seen as, well, orthopedic. That word generally connotes something big and black worn by an unsteady octagenarian, but shoes don’t actually have to be hideous to protect the musculoskeletal system.
The Asic Gel-Renma, which is marketed as a pickleball shoe, is essentially a prescription Brooks “walkers” dressed up for semi-active Boomers. That might not sound like a compliment, but it is. If the shoe can protect dad’s ankles, it’s solid. And the Gel-Renmas are incredibly supportive. They’re great for any sport that’s heavy on pivoting and cutting. They’re padded, but not ridiculously so, and they boast a slightly wide, non-sticking sole. Are they as cool as the collabs? Certainly not. But they keep players in the game, and there’s plenty to be said for that.
BEST BALL
Spalding NeverFlat Elite Indoor-Outdoor Basketball
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Spalding’s NeverFlat Elite Basketball gets the top spot on our list because it’s a classic — versatile, high-quality, and reasonably priced. It’s designed for both indoor and outdoor play, and the brand guarantees that it stays inflated for one year. It has a zingy bounce and its composite cover remained unscathed after play on some rough New York City asphalt (a feat in itself). However, if outdoor-only play is in the cards, the brand also offers a Street Outdoor Basketball, which is designed for, yes, outdoor ball. Its rubber cover is ultra-durable and it’s easy to grip.
BEST SHORTS
Russell Men's Dri-Power Performance Shorts
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Five years ago, designer Eric Emanuel started selling high-design mesh shorts, popping his initials (correctly pronounced as a dolphin noise: “eee eee”) on colorful pairs that sold out quickly. Other designers and big brands followed suit. John Elliott went floral. Todd Snyder went block print. Even Nike released Cherry Blossom pairs. (Brands love a high margin product.)
Russell, long a major player in the shorts game, took a different route. The brand dipped a toe in design then… stepped back and returned to selling black and blue and green and red. Why — the logic seemed to go — mess with something that works? Companies mess this up all the time, chasing trends instead of becoming staples. But Russell didn’t. The brand’s mesh shorts don’t make a statement, they just make sense as a go-to. Playing basketball? Great. Playing soccer? Roll them up. Watching basketball? Underwear optional. Does Russell make the most luxurious product? No, but with its smartly cut products and Dri-Power wicking fabrics, the company still makes the products designers seek to emulate.
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