4 Best Basketball Shoes for Small Forwards (2022)

What does it take to be a small forward? The small forward needs to have a strong well-rounded basketball skill set. 

They have to help out with the ball-handling, grab rebounds, make an open jumper, and mix it up inside on defense. You need shoes that have strong traction and good durability.

The Traction on this shoe is awesome. It does not matter if you have dust courts, this shoe will stick like glue. The Kyrie flytrap 2 has a very deep grove, so you can even play outdoors with them. It has very clean traction, does not pick up much dust, and can be good for the outdoor. 

The bottom of the Kyrie flytrap 2 is very curved. The cushion on this shoe is not as good as the other parts. The material that this shoe uses is super solid. It feels nice on your foot, and it is very thin. 

This pair of shoes kind of reminds me of Kobe 6s. Kyrie flytrap weights around 11.18 OZ. The shoes are super light, the support and lockdown of these are great. The overall comfort is not the best. the only time you want to put Kyrie flytrap 2 on is when you are playing basketball. 

2. Lebron 13 Soldier

The traction on Lebron 13 soldiers is actually phenomenal. It is really really lovely. You stop really hard and fast. This translucent outsole held up really well. It has a 180-degree air max cushioning system in the heel, so air max actually feels nice, but you can really feel it when you are jumping. 

There are three zoom pads on the bottom of the shoes. This shoe has tons of responsibility. I have really good balance when I am playing. The Lebron 13 soldier will be very stiff at first, because of the material. 

The material on the soldier is actually way nice than the regular Lebron 13. The shoe gave me a really good lockdown in the forefoot but is not the same way in the heel. It has a very cool lacing system. It is a little bit different from the other Lebrons. The support is not as good as the high top shoes, but it gets the job done. Overall, a very trustworthy and good-looking shoe. 

The traction pattern on this shoe is super weird. You have really deep groves and long rubber that are super soft. 

It is not the best shoes for outdoor because of the bottom. It has a crazy hard bite on a clean court. On a dusty court, the rubber is pretty far apart so it does not pick up much dust. It has a firm touch for the cushion. It feels nice and lightly bouncing. There is a good amount of compression and it is soft. 

The shoe has a really thin material, but it has a lot of support and durability as well. It does not feel the most premium in hand, but on foot, it feels great. For the support and lockdown, you have this really interesting lace system. The lacing system is really wide on the forefoot. The only problem with this shoe is that it will take a couple of days to break it in.  

The traction on these is absolutely amazing. The traction on the Jordan XXXIII is both great for indoors and outdoors. I do not really recommend these for outdoors, because there is a ton of fraying on these already. 

The cushion on these is very comfortable too. It has unlocked zoom in the forefoot, and you have the heck zoom unit in the heel. At first, these shoes are going to be stiff and kind of bulky. Once you get used to it or have worn it a couple of times. The shoe will be amazing in games. 

The material on the Jordan XXXIII is more on the basic side. They kept the upper pretty lightweight and breathable. It is super flexible on the forefoot. It allows the overlays to really do their job. The support on these is really trustworthy. It is very flexible and has a lot of protection for your ankle. You can’t really go wrong on support for high top shoes. 

Buyer's Guide

What are the best shoes for a small forward? Here are some of the things you should look out for. 

Traction and Durability: When you are a small forward. You want your shoes to have the best durability on the court. You want shoes that will last a long time. You don’t want to slip or fall in the middle of the game.

Support and Lockdown: For a basketball player, you need to have good support and lockdown in order to be a good player. As a small forward, the team needs your help on both sides of the rim. Be a good finisher and have a good fundamental defense.