I have been searching for hoop shoes (as the streets say) for quite a long time (absolutely not influenced by Kelly Oubre Jr. nor inspired by the potential team shaker) and let me tell you, these boys have been lying to us the whole time. 

Why am I only today-years-old when I discovered the pink basketball shoes that are nowhere near being tacky? Or, is that something they were gatekeeping for niche fashion?

Don’t get me wrong, I saw NBA players wear pink shoes but the reason (most times) used to be to spread awareness of breast cancer. It's one thing to love them, but now that I know there’s a whole new trend on the pink basketball shoes, the list just keeps going. 

So I went through it all, the what-he-wore-in-that-game, the people’s choice, the player’s choice, the TikTok-loved pink basketball shoes of all time. I found a few, and then I tried a few.

 

Reebok Women's Bb4500 Hi High Top Basketball Shoe

If you haven’t glimpsed this once in TikTok, you’re lying. I mean, I have seen this twice and I’m not even an NBA fan.

That’s the beauty of it, it could almost pass as casual shoes that are amazing on the court too.

Hear me out, the left shoe has a pink embroidered butterfly on it, and the right one has an embroidered rose – in peachy pink! 

Um, but that must cost a lot. 

Good news, it costs less than $100. I’m as surprised as you are.

If you are a player, you know all these come second to performance. I’ll tell you briefly –

Traction? 9/10

Anti-slip sole? Installed.

Weight? In-between medium to light.

I just wish the cushion was not this close to the ground around the forefoot, but c’mon, it’s not a big deal.

 

This has to be my favorite one on the list. It's an adorable pink and I just know girls are going to get crazy for it (I’m one of them).

Hands down, the best looking (I’m a bit biased), but it goes beyond that. I made a performance review to face off against other brands on this list and this one got both the beauty and the brains (I meant performance but brains sound cooler).

It’s true to fit, I didn’t have to suffer for the sizes. It’s also narrow fitting so it feels like its insides are hugging you. The traction is what they call ‘gorilla grip’ and the squeaky sound is just the cherry on top. It’s also very cushiony, and lightweight so that you can move in a heartbeat.

Um, the drawback, right, it’s the price. Not surprising. 

I truly think it’s worth the extra bucks to level up your game.

 

Nike Girls Basketball Shoes

Nike Lebron Basketball Shoe

 

The name and brand do justice to this one, it is for serious players only. The one that you can use for both indoor and outdoor tournaments.

If you were peeved by the screeching sounds, you’re now being rescued by Candy. But don’t question its traction though, it’s just as good as others. It also has EVA midsoles, you can actually see the breakdown of materials on their website. It’s lightweight, feels full around the foot, and cushiony.

There’s no serious drawback, I just find the pink to be a bit too much for me. But I’ve seen others lose their minds over it, so that’s a me-issue. 

 

Nike Sabrina 1 Unisex Basketball Shoe

Saved the best for the last.

I’ll be quick and honest. It has the most amazing sole, it makes it grippy and it’s a big big upgrade from JB1.

This is best for people like me who are too lazy to clean their shoes often. This literally does not get any dirt on whatever sole. It’s also cushiony, has a full-length boom, and feels lightweight to the feet. I liked the detailing on the shoe, it’s perfect.

They also launched it in blue and green but the pink one tops any. 

It’s an overall win for me. Good luck choosing your favorite one!