Updated: July 25, 2023

Let’s be honest. For many of us, dunking on a regulation 10 foot net is a pipe dream. But there are a select few who can realistically slam it down as long as they have the right basketball shoes. If you want to have a chance to dunk like your shoes have springs in them, you need to find sneakers that maximize your vertical jump. At the same time, you want those shoes to also have other key factors like fit, cushioning and support so that you don’t sacrifice the rest of your game.

So what can you put on that will let you hammer a wicked slam in your next pickup game? If dunking is your goal, you’ll want shoes with two key features – they need to be lightweight (so as not to weigh you down) and have maximum springiness (to help you get up).

The shoes below are those that have been reviewed and rated as the best basketball shoes for posterizing your next opponent.