10 Best Basketball Shoes For Flat Feet (2023)

Flat feet are a significant issue in basketball players. Over 30 percent of the population has flat feet because their arches fail to form during growth.

As a flat feet player, you should have the best supportive shoes that support the arch muscle. And prevent the Achilles from breaking by excessive pull.

As a professional basketball coach, I have trained kids with flat feet. But for this review, I also reached out to other coaches, players and experts to seek their recommendation for the top 10 best basketball shoes for flat feet. 

So you could get ultimate comfort, and you won’t feel pain in your arches or get tired running on the basketball court during extended game hours.

How To Choose The Best Basketball Shoes For Flat Feet and Plantar Fasciitis

Feet lean inward when a flat feet person walks. Without added orthotic support, such feet are unstable pain and injuries are likely.

However, Anton Tudor proved in extended research that flat-footedness is not a disadvantage for athletic performance. The flat feet players are as successful as others in the NBA and other sports.

We help you identify the factors you want to look out for when selecting the best basketball sneakers for Flat Feet.

Arch Support

Flat feet may have little to no arch. Arch support is a critical feature that we must have in the best hoop shoe. The regular basketball shoe has a variable cushioning setup under the midfoot arch.

Mike is the creator & CEO of Sportsinjuryclinic.net. A qualified Sports Injury Therapist with a Physical Education, Sports Science degree.

And he says that if a flat-footed person is involved in a sport and an activity that requires walking all day, he should ensure they have very supportive shoes or arch support insoles. 

The best basketball shoes for flat feet must have sufficient padding under arches for better stability. That will reduce the chance of tripping on the basketball court.

Additionally, a shank plate is added under the Cushion. It aids in torsional support to the midfoot arch area. So it increases the stability of performance sneakers for flat feet.

Cushion

Basketball shoes with very comfortable cushioning are essential to prevent flat feet from fatiguing. The extended play time takes a toll on flat feet, and they tire quickly. 

Having said that, it is recommended that full-length Zoom Strobel, full-length Boost, Fuel cell, or react technology cushioning shoes be selected. 

Such full-length cushions don’t have a variable thickness. Their responsive and even cushioning gives a superior court feel. 

It would help to have the right cushioning for flat feet in the right basketball sneakers.

Traction

Good basketball shoes have durable outsoles with solid traction patterns. Traction prevents foot slippage. The size and width of traction add control to your game, especially when you are flat-footed.

 It would help if you had superb traction to keep up with fast motions in the game.

The herringbone pattern is the most reliable one. It has variable depth rubber on the outsole to add grip on the slippery basketball courts.

It is equally vital as Support and Cushion set up in the best basketball shoes for flat feet to 

maintain stability and balance for a flat feet player.

Ankle Support

Flat feet players have stress on the Achilles tendon. A high-top shoe or very nice support can prevent Achilles tendon injury.

When basketball players run or walk, their feet stretch forward and put pressure on the Achilles tendon when having high jumps or cuts on the court. 

This results in a ruptured Achilles. So to avoid this, excellent ankle support is pivotal in the best basketball shoes for flat feet.

Fit

The flat-feet player usually has wide feet. Players prefer to play in shoes that snugly fit around their toe box in regular shoes. 

For wide feet or flat footers, such a snug fit may result in sore toes, and let me tell you, although it is a minor injury, you can’t play with sore and painful toes. 

Basketball shoes with a broad base are the best choice for most flat feet players.

Breathability

It is normal to get heated up and sweaty during a basketball game. Flat feet players need comfortable shoes that prevent fatigue. 

Lightweight basketball shoes with upper mesh material will keep the air circulation from the holes. Thus keeping them fresh for the game.

Top 10 Best Flatfoot Basketball Shoes

Here’s a List of our best picks from so many basketball shoes we studied for the review. We have selected the Top 10 best flatfoot basketball shoes based on the above mentioned features.

Without further delay, let’s get to it. 

1. Under Armour Curry 9 (Best Under Armour Basketball Shoes For Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

92 %

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These are Labeled as unisex basketball shoes. So women with low arches can wear them as women’s basketball shoes for flat feet. 

The Low-top Under Armour shoes is winners in all categories for excellent traction, midfoot Support, responsive Cushion, and soft and durable mesh material.

The support on the Curry 9 is outstanding. 

The Curry 9 has a wide base for wide flatfoot players. You feel very low to the ground. The insole has a little side outrigger. It gives excellent lateral stability. The back of the shoes has a 

TPU heel counter to support the heel area.

The hallmark of these pairs of sneakers is their colossal traction. Nothing out there can beat it in the traction with this budget. 

The heels offer an excellent curve shape. The transition is very smooth while running on rough outdoor basketball shoes. Even on a very dirty court, it works incredibly great.

The cushioning is very loaded to the ground with its full-length flow cushioning. The cushioning is not so thick or thin; it offers impact protection and a nice balance to give a nice court feel. So the overall cushioning is very soft, refined, and comfortable. 

The material is fine, and the textile. It has a pattern on it. The overall material is light with a criss-cross design in it. The Fit is excellent and snug. As you use it more, it becomes wider.

As for outdoor shoes, these must-have outstanding durability; the excellent rubber outsole is thick and very durable. Its smooth curved shape in the forefoot supports nice and smooth turns.

Check Detailed Guide about: Under Armour Curry 9 Review

2. New Balance Kawhi 2 (Most Comfortable Basketball Shoes For Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

90 %

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Our last and the most outstanding pick in the line of the best basketball sneakers for flat feet is the New Balance Kawhi2. It is also a great all-rounder choice for its perfectly balanced feature for a good basketball shoe.

The support is suitable for flat feet players. The shoe heel cup is nicely fitting. It provides good lateral support and locks your ankle in place. 

The curved heels will make weight transitions to the sole a smooth process. The lateral support on the shoe is enhanced by the outsole coming on the lateral side above the midfoot area. 

The heel has an internal TPU heel counter. The Achilles area is nicely padded and soft for added comfort. So the support does the job well.

Excellent traction is its highlight feature that will never let you slip like never. 

The traction has no issue on the indoor surface, and the durable rubber sole may pick up a little dust outdoors, which is super easy to clean. So traction is excellent, as we need good outdoor basketball shoes.

A combination of rubber on the lower part offers cushions and bounce. It features a Fuel cell foam midsole to give impact protection.

New Balance uses Fit weave lite material to make shoe uppers. Material is flexible and has a minimum break-in period. The premium material will support longer durability.

The grip and flexibility in the inner part are just so balanced to make it breathable.

The Fit is great for narrow feet. It Protects free foot movement and keeps a grip. It’s overall a great responsive and resilient setup in the heel.

Detailed New Balance Kawhi 2 Review

3. Adidas Harden Vol. 6 (Most Adidas Basketball Shoe For Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

88 %

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Adidas Harden Vol. 6 is undoubtedly one of the best basketball shoes. The shoes’ looks and colorways are beautiful. High school boys are going to love the aesthetics.

Adidas Harden vol.6 has a midfoot torsional plate and an excellent curve shape outsole. The heel-to-toe transition is very smooth. 

The support is exceptional, which makes them the best Adidas basketball shoes for flat feet. 

The Harden vol. 6 has Achilles Cushion pieces. The 5 round foam provides excellent ankle support.

The rubber outsole has a herringbone pattern in two different sizes. The rubber grooves are thick to offer a solid grip on the floor. On the dusty court, it is a bit slippery and needs a quick wipe-up. But it provides excellent traction.

The Adidas harden vol. 6 has a full-length Boost cushion that is very smooth and responsive. The Cushion is not too springy. It gives a perfectly balanced cushioning for a superior court feel 

and impact protection.

The material on Adidas Harden vol. 6 is not so premium for the price. Adidas used recycled material for the top. The shoe is very lightweight.

Its design and colorways make it a good youth basketball shoe for flat feet.

The Fit is a bit wide. It can be an issue for slim foot players.

For Complete Details: Adidas Harden Vol 6 Review

4. Adidas Dame 8 (Best Outdoor Basketball Shoes For Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

88 %

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Adidas has been making the Dame series, but it’s the best-looking Dame out of all. The signature shoe is one of the best basketball shoes for outdoor use as these are bounce pro with top-tier traction.

These are Mid-top shoes. It has a super support system as a basketball shoe for flat feet. 

You just look at its sole; its thickness makes it springy, making them shock-absorbing outdoor basketball shoes. 

These are Mid-top shoes. The back of the shoe has Achilles’ pad for ankle support. The shoe fit is broad, so these are the best basketball shoes for wide flat feet. 

The side of the shoes has a nice lateral counter for lateral stability. The shoes are wide to offer the best lateral stability. 

The outsole in the Adidas Dame is not what is expected of an excellent brand; the upper mesh material looks like a cheaper shoe. It’s so light in weight for its synthetic build. 

The cushioning in Dame 8 is one super springy feature. The lightweight shoes are just fit for feet, so they do not raise your foot high enough to cause any discomfort from the upper or unwanted tightness.

The Dame 8 provides durability with its arched midsole; that’s how it offers solid traction, making them the best outdoor basketball shoes for flat feet.

Check our article about 5 Basketball Players With Flat Feet

The hallmark of the Adidas Dame 8 will be the cushions in the outsole with the extra rubber on it. It takes a minimum break-in period and fits perfectly on your feet; the player will not feel any pressure on the feet.

For further detail See: Adidas Dame 8 Review

5. Nike KD 15 (Best Low-Top Basketball Shoes For Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

87 %

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Kevin Durant’s signature shoes are designed for players who play at any position and Nike KD are the best Low-top shoes in our top picks for flat feet players.

KD 15 are great basketball shoes for outdoors as well. Its lined pattern and grooves do not pick up dust on outdoor and indoor surfaces.

It literally bites the ground, and there is no slippage issue on any hardwood or concrete surface.

If you buy a Durable XDR outsole, it will last longer on rough outdoor courts.

Full-length Zoom Air Strobel makes the cushioning underfoot. It’s known to be springy and responsive. The midsole area is made softer with Cushlon. It provides extra comfort to the arch muscles.

Overall, KD 15 has a perfectly balanced cushion which gives impact protection and a good bounce.

The shoe’s material is stretchy and comfortable on the foot. So

 it gives you an ultimate soft feel.

Top-tier support in Nike KD 15 makes them most suitable for a flat feet player. Its beefy heel cup locks the foot on the footbed. Its base is rigid.

KD 15 has a snug fit. It fits perfectly on medium-wide feet. But if you have wide feet, buy half a size up from your actual size.

For details Check: Nike KD 15 Review

6. Air Jordan 36 (Best Jordan Shoe For Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

86 %

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Air Jordan 36 is the signature sneaker. These basketball sneakers stand out as compared to many other latest releases. The Air Jordan 36 is undoubtedly the best Jordan shoe for flat feet for its features.

Air Jordan 36 has a tread pattern on the outsole. The outsole is translucent and hard. In the midfoot area, it is separate from the midfoot. 

Traction is superb on clean courts; however, on dusty outdoor surfaces, its rubber sole picks up dust and needs wiping up to remain consistent. Overall, traction is excellent for shifty moves on the court.

The Midfoot area has a hard shank plate for the Arch and torsional Support. 

The side of the shoes has fused overlays for superior lateral stability. The back of the foot has an internal heel counter for Achilles support.

The cushion setup is very excellent. Air Jordan 36 has a full-length Zoom air unit. The zoom Strobel Cushion gives a great bounce and kinetic energy. It is soft and gives a super jump force.

The Material in the Air Jordan 36 consists of a fragile leno-weave system. That is light and breathable material. The looks are also beautiful.

For more details Check: Air Jordan 36 Review

7. Nike PG 6 (Nike Basketball Shoes For Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

86 %

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PG 06 is the 6th signature shoe of Paul George. The sneaker’s performance is top-tier in all aspects.

The Pg 6 midsole has a super supportive shank plate combined with the Full-length Nike React foam. This soft and springy midfoot cushioning gives great Arch support.

The outrigger areas on the lateral sides give it superior lateral stability. The heel is also contained in the right spot. Overall, support is outstanding, which makes them the best basketball shoes for flat feet. It’s a low-cut shoe, so the Achilles area is also padded.

The shifty movements are not well supported; it is very low to the ground.

The material on its upper is a textile mesh. It is very thin and lightweight. It feels very cozy and comfortable on foot. The tongue is padded. The Fit is perfect when you tie the laces.

The traction on the PG 6 is very reliable for outdoor and indoor courts. The grooves on the 

outsole are soft and not too deep. On longer games and dusty courts, the traction is consistent. 

It has outdone our expectations.

Check Nike Pg 6 Review for detail

8. Nike Lebron 19: (Women’s Basketball Shoes For Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

86 %

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Nike Lebron 19 are the signature shoes of star player James Lebron. These are probably the best Nike men’s basketball shoes.

The shoe material is a bit heavy on the foot and is more expensive than many shoes. But for the specific Stability and Cushion that is needed for a flatfeet player, it does the job well.

The shoe’s rubber outsole has a hard surface in between; it has a shank plate running underneath to give torsional support and rigidity.

TPU wings on the side of the midfoot area are great for median and lateral stability. The back of the shoe is padded to support Achilles’ site, and an internal TPU heel counter makes it more supportive and stiffer.

The Cushion is a combination of Cushlon foam along with the full-length Zoom Air unit. The 

heel area has a peripheral Air Max unit. 

It efficiently allows air circulation through the air max unit. It pushes you forward and gives you an excellent forward thrust. So the Cushion is really high off the ground and very bouncy.

The traction is not very outstanding. It works nicely on the clean courts, but the outdoor performance is not excellent. The rubber outsole grip is not too firm on dusty floors.

The upper material on the basketball sneakers looks very premium. It is made of thin plastic. 

The lacing system is traditional. They have added a fly wire for better lockdown and fit. 

The tongue area is padded. This material is soft and feels minimal.

For Complete Review Check: Nike Lebron 19 Review

9. Nike Zoom Freak 4 (Best Basketball Shoes For Wide Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

83 %

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Gianni’s Zoom Freak 4 is the better-looking sneaker of all the previous three releases. It’s one of my Top choices this year.

Starting with traction, it has a unique computer-generated traction pattern. After the initial break-in period, the traction becomes very reliable and grippy.

The cushion consists of a full-length phylon and two zoom units. One in the heel and another in the heel. It does not add up much to the shoe’s weight, and you do not lose the responsiveness. But it gives a subtle bounce that is just right for a guard.

Nike Zoom Freak 4 upper material is mesh with fused overlays over pressure points. It’s very soft and lightweight. The shoe’s breathability is excellent.

Zoom Freak 4 has all the support feature that a flat feet player might need. The internal TPU heel counter and padding in the back of the shoe provide excellent security to the ankles.

Rigid foam in the midsole does not let it bend in half. So arches are safe, and you would not feel pain after long game hours.

The shoe has a perfect fit that wraps around the foot like a glove. I highly recommend everyone to buy a true-to-size pair.

For detail review check: Nike Zoom Freak 4 Review

10. Under Armour Curry 4 Flotro (Youth Basketball Shoes For Flat Feet)

Overall Rating

83 %

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Stephen Curry wore Curry 4 Flotro in many games, dazzling the fans with his excellent performance.

The retro re-release is a tribute to his unmatchable game-winning performance in 2017 when he was wearing Curry 4.

Traction is composed of the radial pattern, which shows magical stopping-at-a-dime control on the court. It is very reliable for shifty and pivoting footwork.

The Full-length flow foam makes the cushion of the Under Armour Curry 4 Flotro. The Flow foam makes the cushion and outer sole of the shoe. There is no separate rubber outsole.

It is adequately responsive and great for softening the flat feet of players under their arch. But it is not very bouncy and lacks impact protection\

With that said, it’s very lightweight. The tongue is soft and runs around the ankle as a sock liner, which gives extra protection and grip to the ankle area. It’s very soft and comfy.

The midfoot plate ensures that the foot does not bend in whichever way while making aggressive turns and stops. The curve shape keeps the feet on the footbed.

Curry 4 Flotro fits true to size, and if you have average foot width, buy yourself a true-to-size pair.

Check details on: Under Armour Curry 4 Flotro Review

Does Flat Feet Affect Player’s Performance?

Krkeljas conducted a study in collaboration with researchers at the University of Tampa to determine the difference between the physical stamina of a flat feet player and an average player. 

They conducted a jumping exercise on the female volleyball and basketball players. And that’s what he found in the end;

“When they feel a weakness somewhere in their body, they compensate for the weakness by adjusting so it doesn’t affect their performance.”

Hence it’s backed by research that Flat feet players and regular players give the same performance.

Conclusion

All the shoes are carefully selected after many reviews and tons of research. But we prefer Adidas Harden Volume 6. It has outstanding ankle support, lateral stability, and plush cushioning. 

The shoe has responsive cushioning to support flat feet and plantar fasciitis on the court.

Harden Volume 6 is a great design, and it supports all the passive-aggressive moves on the court with its excellent traction and bouncy cushioning.

The runner-up in the category is Under Armour Curry 9, as it is unisex, with all the great cushioning in the midfoot and forefoot area. 

The biting traction and support setup will keep you stable during all the shifty moves. So for these reasons, both shoes have top spots among the top 10 best basketball shoes for flat feet and plantar fasciitis.