NBA Sneaker Power Rankings for the 2025-26 Season
Published
You smell that? [sniff sniff]
The freshly waxed hardwood, crisp cold ones overflowing from a souvenir cup, glistening glizzies emerging from their foiled hibernation, a thick cloud of Lebron’s chalk in the air, Mike Breen’s hair gel.
It can only mean one thing: THIS LEAGUE is BACK babyyyy.
NBA action officially kicks off tonight and we couldn’t be more excited. Tunnel fits, a fresh start for our teams, and unlimited new sneakers. Heavyweights like the Lebron 23 and the AE 2 are making their regular-season debuts while we wait to see who will be the first to wear Tatum 4s and Hali 1s while their namesake players are down for the count.
We’ve been doing our fantasy drafts and reading all of the preseason previews and it got us thinking… which team has the best sneaker lineup? Sure, you may not think it matters but you’d be wrong. We already know from our deeply scientific work over on the gridiron that when you look great, you play great. So the teams with the best sneakers could very well be the teams we see make it through 82 to the promised land.
The Sole Retriever team consulted with a wide array of data scientists and engineers to develop a novel scoring formula:
3 points for each player with a signature sneaker
1 point bonus for each colorway of that signature sneaker released or announced
2 points for each player who has had an official PE before
We only ranked teams based on their projected starting 5 players. Some teams have veteran bench guys with sneakers, but if they’re not on the court, they don’t count. When it came to which sneaker to count for each player, we went with what made the most sense, usually the most recent major release. We know there is a new Curry signature model on the way, but it hasn’t been shown or announced yet, and the Series 7 got a lot of new tech and colorways and Steph will likely be wearing it in-game for a while, so we went with that for Golden State. Same goes for the Harden 10 and any other shoe that hasn’t made its official debut.
We went with what’s out and being worn to start the season. Subsequent updates to the Power Rankings will reflect new shoe and colorway releases. As for ties, that’s really the only subjective part to the list. If we think the signature sneakers and PEs on one team outweigh the other, we’ve given them the advantage.
Alright, enough nerd stuff. Here are your 2025-26 NBA Sneaker Power Rankings, presented by Sole Retriever.
30. Utah Jazz - 2 points
- Lauri Markannen (2 points)
A Lauri Markannen PE kept the most forgotten team in the NBA from scoring a big old nothing burger. Congrats, Utah.
29. Brooklyn Nets - 2 points
- Terrance Mann (2 points)
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Nets may have topped this list just a few short seasons ago, but after the departures of Harden, KD, Kyrie, and pretty much everyone, it’s bleak for New York’s other team. At least Terrance Mann had some PEs.
28. Toronto Raptors - 4 points
- Brandon Ingram (2 points), RJ Barrett (2 points)
At least the Blue Jays are in the World Series. Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each score 2 PE points for Toronto. Too bad Drake isn’t actually on the team.
27. Atlanta Hawks - 4 points
- Trae Young (2 points), Kristaps Porziņģis (2 points)
We debated giving Trae Young negative points for walking away from a signature shoe deal with adidas to be the 12th man on the bench at Jordan Brand but that felt ice cold. We’ll give him PE points. Points up, A-Town down for Porziņģis and his PE, too.
26. Detroit Pistons - 4 points
- Cade Cunningham (2 points), Tobias Harris (2 points)
It’s so cold in the D for sneakers right now, but the future is bright. The team is on the upswing finally, and you have to imagine Cade Cunningham will get a shoe at some point. For now, he and Tobias Harris each just get 2 PE points.
25. Orlando Magic - 4 points
- Paul Banchero (2 points), Jalen Suggs (2 points)
Like Detroit, just two players score PE points for now (Banchero and Suggs) but the future is bright, especially if Paolo gets his own Jordan down the road.
24. New York Knicks - 6 points
- Jalen Brunson (2 points), Karl-Anthony Towns (2 points), Mikal Bridges (2 points)
Jalen Brunson has had a million PEs but it only counts for 2 points. Seems the Knicks are having trouble getting over the hump on and off the court. KAT and Mikal Bridges also score 2.
23. Charlotte Hornets - 6 points
- LaMelo Ball (6 points)
I didn’t want to count these monstrosities, either. But fair is fair, so all 3 colorways of Melo Ball’s new Puma MB.05 score for Charlotte. MJ’s NASCAR team might rank higher on this list than his NBA team. Insane.
22. Sacramento Kings - 8 points
- Zach LaVine (2 points), DeMar DeRozan (2 points), Domantas Sabonis (2 points), Dennis Schröder (2 points)
Nearly everyone in the starting 5 has had PEs so the Kings notched 8 points in this ranking. They did just sign Russel Westbrook, which would give them a boost if we thought he was going to start. Maybe by the mid-season power rankings.
21. Philadelphia 76ers - 9 points
- Paul George (3 points), Joel Embiid (2 points), Tyrese Maxey (2 points), Kelly Oubre Jr. (2 points)
Although Joel Embiid continues to be injury prone, his deal with Skechers helps boost the 76ers up to 9 points. There’s also a potential signature sneaker in the works. We also had to give points to Paul George for being a former signature athlete with Nike (there’s also rumors his PG 1 is coming back.
20. Washington Wizards - 10 points
- CJ McCollum (6 points), Khris Middleton (2 points), Alex Sarr (2 points)
You may not immediately think of the modern Washington Wizards when it comes to sneaker game, but they’ve actually got a signature athlete in the starting 5. CJ McCollum has a line of sneakers with Li-Ning, currently on the CJ3
19. San Antonio Spurs - 10 points
- De'Aaron Fox (6 points), Victor Wembanyama (2 points), Harrison Barnes (2 points)
Thanks to a late-season trade last year, the San Antonio Spurs have a signature athlete on the squad. Curry Brand’s De’Aaron Fox just dropped his new Curry Fox 2 sneaker, but don’t forget about Harrison Barnes and Victor Wembanyama. Wemby’s likely in line for a signature sneaker in the not-so-distant future, while Barnes has a history of adidas PEs.
18. Denver Nuggets - 12 points
- Nikola Jokić (5 points), Aaron Gordon (5 points), Jamal Murray (2 points)
Two signature athletes on one team, you’d think the Nuggets would rank higher on this list. Unfortunately for Jokić and Aaron Gordon, their latest sneakers don’t have many colorways on the market just yet.
17. Chicago Bulls - 12 points
- Isaac Okoro (8 points), Matas Buzelis (2 points), Josh Giddey (2 points)
You’re probably just like us and totally forgot that Isaac Okoro has his own shoe. That gives the Bulls a decent advantage over a decent chunk of the league, especially with five colorways released thus far. Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey both have had player-exclusives, the former having multiple Reebok Engine A colorways.
16. Indiana Pacers - 12 points
- Tyrese Haliburton (6 points), Pascal Siakam (2 points), Bennedict Mathurin (2 points), Aaron Nesmith (2 points)
One of the most recent signature sneaker launches came courtesy of Puma and Tyrese Haliburton. Hali debuted his new model during the NBA Finals before subsequently tearing his Achilles. Bad timing. We had to include him in the power rankings for the team even though he’s not projected to play for most of, if not all of the 2025-26 season.
15. Milwaukee Bucks - 14 points
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (14 points)
Like he does on the court for the Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo is carrying the team on his back in the sneaker power rankings. He’s the only athlete with a signature sneaker in the starting 5, and no one else has even had a player-exclusive. The Freak 7’s 11 colorways help boost them into the top 50% of the league.
14. Memphis Grizzlies - 14 points
- Ja Morant (12 points), Jaren Jackson Jr. (2 points)
Ja Morant arguably has the most exciting signature sneaker on the market from Nike right now. His Nike By You Ja 3 went viral on social media where he even gifted a fan a free pair. Besides this, there have been a handful of pairs released and a few more to look forward to, putting the total number of colors at nine if you include the By You.
13. Miami Heat - 15 points
- Andrew Wiggins (9 points), Bam Adebayo (2 points), Tyler Herro (2 points), Norman Powell (2 points)
The Jimmy Butler saga from last year resulted in him being traded to the Golden State Warriors in a five-team trade that brought Andrew Wiggins to South Beach. Luckily for the Heat (in these power rankings), they still have a signature athlete with Wiggins. The Heat are also home to A’ja Wilson’s boyfriend, Bam Adebayo, a Jordan athlete with PEs to his name, Tyler Herro, who has rocked Sabrina PEs, and Norman Powell, a Skechers athlete.
12. Oklahoma City Thunder - 15 points
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (9 points), Jalen Williams (2 points), Chet Holmgren (2 points), Lu Dort (2 points)
The reigning NBA champions have a stacked roster and are hoping for a repeat of their success from last season. Even better is that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s signature sneaker is on the market. Alongside SGA, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Lu Dort each have had player-exclusive sneakers.
11. New Orleans Pelicans - 16 points
- Zion Williamson (14 points), Jordan Poole (2 points)
Zion Williamson’s career has been lackluster to say the least. That’s also translated to his signature sneaker line with Jordan Brand, who signed the prodigy and #1 overall NBA draft pick to a six-year $75 million deal in 2019. They’ve still put out a ton of Zion 4 colorways, even if the sneaker has flat-lined for sneakerheads and ballers. Wouldn’t be surprising to see his signature line get shelved in the next year.
10. Cleveland Cavaliers - 16 points
- Donovan Mitchell (12 points), Evan Mobley (2 points), Darius Garland (2 points)
The Cavs are looking scary this season. Hopefully they can push through the playoffs with the help of Donovan Mitchell, who has boosted them to number 10 in our sneaker power rankings with his adidas DON Issue 7. Nine colorways on the market plus player-exclusive sneakers from Evan Mobley (adidas) and Darius Garland (New Balance) net them 16 points total.
9. Houston Rockets - 17 points
- Kevin Durant (13 points), Reed Sheppard (2 points), Fred VanVleet (2 points)
Kevin Durant is back in Texas. The former Longhorn hasn’t played professionally for a Texas team since his NCAA days, and the return to the Lone Star State means that the Rockets have a major boost in their score. Without the lifetime Nike athlete’s KD 18, you’d only have Reed Sheppard and Fred VanVleet who have player-exclusives from Nike and Li-Ning, respectively.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves - 17 points
- Anthony Edwards (11 points), Julius Randle (2 points), Rudy Gobert (2 points), Mike Conley (2 points)
Out of everyone on this list, Anthony Edwards has the most recent signature sneaker to have hit the market. His adidas AE 1 was a smash hit and became the de facto Sneaker of the Year in 2024, but the AE 2 is off to a somewhat rocky start. The OG colorway is still sitting, but future colorways are looking great. Add Julius Randle from Skechers, Rudy Gobert from Nike, and Mike Conley from Jordan Brand for a cool 17 points.
7. Golden State Warriors - 21 points
- Steph Curry (6 points), Jimmy Butler (8 points), Draymond Green (2 points), Al Horford (2 points)
These are the twilight years for the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry, as the 37-year-old NBA superstar will likely hang up his jersey in the coming years. Before that happens, he’ll be taking the floor in the 2025-26 NBA season in the Under Armour Curry Series 7. He described the “super shoe” as “the best basketball shoe I’ve ever worn,” though it will likely be joined by the Under Armour Curry 13 in the coming months. We also can't forget Jimmy Butler’s signature line with Li-Ning and player-exclusives from Draymond Green and Al Horford.
6. Boston Celtics - 25 points
- Jaylen Brown (10 points), Jayson Tatum (13 points), Derrick White (2 points)
We’ll be breaking one of the rules on this list for the Boston Celtics. Yes, Jayson Tatum will not be in the starting 5, but how can we ignore his new signature sneaker with Jordan Brand? The Tatum 4 hit shelves earlier in this month and is expected to have over a dozen colorways in the next 6 months, but without Tatum the Celtics fall far down on the list. They’ve also got Jaylen Brown, who has his own brand, 741, that makes his signature sneaker.
5. Los Angeles Clippers - 29 points
- Kawhi Leonard (11 points), James Harden (16 points), Bradley Beal (2 points)
Two superstar NBA players with signature sneakers headline the LA Clippers: Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Thankfully for the Clips, Harden hasn’t fully unveiled his adidas Harden Vol. 10 sneaker, otherwise they wouldn’t crack the top 5 as the Vol. 9 has 13 releases so far. Kawhi also helps with his 8 releases of the Kawhi 4 from New Balance.
4. Portland Trailblazers - 30 points
- Damian Lillard (13 points), Scoot Henderson (13 points), Jrue Holiday (2 points), Shaedon Sharpe (2 points)
Again, we’re breaking the rules for the Portland Trailblazers. Damian Lillard is finally back to the franchise that drafted him and the city he called home for 11 years after a stint with the Milwaukee Bucks. Even if he’s injured, his new signature sneaker line and the heart-warming return have to be accounted for. His adidas Dame 10 and Scoot Henderson (yeah, he’s got a signature sneaker) with the Puma Scoot Zeros II have put the Blazers in the top 5.
3. Dallas Mavericks - 34 points
- Kyrie Irving (12 points), Klay Thompson (9 points), D'Angelo Russel (9 points), Cooper Flagg (2 points), Anthony Davis (2 points)
There’s only one other team in the NBA with three signature athletes in their starting 5 besides the Dallas Mavericks, but we’ll address them later. For now, we can thank Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, and D’Angelo Russell who all have sneaker lines with Chinese sportswear labels (Kyrie and Klay with ANTA and D’Angelo with Way of Wade) for cracking the top 3. Once again, we did have to break the rule of allowing a player who was injured, but how can you count out Kyrie in a list like this? Don’t forget Cooper Flagg, the number 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, who is about to drop a New Balance PE sneaker, and Anthony Davis, who has a long history of LeBron PEs.
2. Phoenix Suns - 38 points
- Devin Booker (36 points), Jalen Green (2 points)
Ok, this is probably the most unexpected placement on the entire list. The Phoenix Suns only have one player with a signature sneaker and one player who has had PEs, that being Devin Booker and Jalen Green, respectively. Green actually just left adidas and is a sneaker free agent, but Book is about to debut his second model with Nike, the Book 2. His Nike Book 1 has been on the market for nearly two years, and with 33 different colorways released, it’s catapulted the Suns to the number two overall in these power rankings. So much weight coming from Booker on this list is quite the mirror to how the Suns rely on him on the court.
1. Los Angeles Lakers - 54 points
- LeBron James (26 points), Luka Doncic (17 points), Austin Reaves (7 points), Rui Hachimura (2 points), DeAndre Ayton (2 points)
When you’re roster has Luka Doncic and LeBron (don’t forget about Austin Reaves’ Rigorer AR 3), you’re bound to end up near the top of sneaker power rankings. Well, even if The King’s Nike LeBron 23 only has two pairs released thus far, we know The Swoosh will drop 23 different colorways to tell 23 different stories in his illustrious career. On the other hand, Luka Doncic’s Jordan Luka 4 has 14 colorways.
Drew oversees content at Sole Retriever and hates writing in the 3rd person soooo I'm going to stop. I've written for countless blogs and magazines, from Complex to XXL and everywhere in between. Spent a long time in LA, running content and working on branded collabs at The Hundreds. Now, I'm back home on the East Coast freezing my ass off. Email me at drew@soleretriever.com with scoops, story ideas, and size 13 heat.
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy attending concerts and catching the latest movies. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
