Best Nike basketball shoes for guards

Basketball guards are legendary—for good reason. Speedy, strategic and adaptable, these basketball heroes also use their leadership and vision to propel the game. To score big, guards need lightweight, supportive shoes with lots of grip and responsive cushioning. Here's a run-down of the qualities that define the best basketball shoes for guards, plus some recommendations for Nike kicks to support these players.

Guard-style basketball shoes are all about balance. They need to be lightweight, so they don't slow players down. Although these sneakers require enough cushioning to absorb impact and deliver comfort, they shouldn't be as plush or bulky as shoes designed for centres or power forwards. To help with speed, this cushioning should be responsive, returning energy with each step.

Since guards change direction in an instant, outsoles need to offer strong traction with a pattern supporting multi-directional movement. To accommodate so much shifting, stability and security are key—but so is allowing for enough mobility.

Designed by Nike and ace point guard Sabrina Ionescu, this is the ultimate guard-style basketball shoe, to be released on 25 June 2024. Its modified herringbone-patterned outsole supports quick changes of direction. Two types of foam in the midsole, including Nike's newest Cushlon, provide cushioning and stability. Meanwhile, a fit band and stitched cables help deliver a secure feeling.

This pair of sneakers in Kevin Durant's line offers responsive cushioning via an Air Zoom unit in the forefoot. A supportive piece under the arch helps with stability, while the topographical map-like outsole pattern with contoured ridges promotes traction.

This game changer is Nike's first basketball shoe with full-length ZoomX foam. Lightweight, ZoomX provides Nike's highest energy return. Boosting traction, the outsole boasts a heel-to-toe pattern ideal for quick, multi-directional movements. A padded collar, a small plastic plate on the little-toe side of the forefoot and Flywire cables integrated with the laces help stability.

Designed with Luka Dončić, these lightweight sneakers support quick, multi-directional movements. Stability is the name of their game, thanks to features like a sturdy cage-wrapped upper, a strong and flexible plate up the lateral sidewall, and a thick moulded insole. Flexible cushioning in the midsole adds responsiveness.

Similar in design to running shoes, these lightweight sneakers with minimal uppers help ballers play full speed ahead. A full-length Air Zoom unit supplies comfort and responsiveness, while a Waffle herringbone-patterned outsole helps with traction. Together, engineered mesh and a mid-high collar promote stability and support.

These shoes in Ja Morant's signature line with Nike offer responsive cushioning, thanks to a forefoot Air Zoom unit, plus foam in the midsole. A raised foam collar, containment system and forefoot strap contribute to stability.