For decades, most NBA players wore high-top sneakers. Today, just 6% of NBA players wear high-tops.
Of the roughly 25,000 player appearances during a typical NBA season, 61% wear low-tops, 33% wear mid-tops, and just 6% wear high-tops.
Blame Kobe. In 2008, Kobe Bryant became the first basketball superstar to launch a low-top signature shoe: the Nike Kobe IV. The Lakers won the NBA Championship later that season, and Kobe was the Finals MVP. Low-top sneakers have dominated the NBA ever since.
Some claim high-tops reduce strain on the Achilles tendon while providing better support the foot and ankle joints. Others claim it’s all about personal preference. Some claim high-tops are better for heavier players, while low-tops are better for faster players.
What does science say about the difference between high-top and low-top sneakers? Why don’t NBA players wear high-tops anymore? Let’s find out.
The Claim: High-Tops Support Ankles & Prevent Strain
High-tops were traditionally marketed on the idea that wrapping the ankle provides extra stability and prevents lateral (side) ankle sprains.
Theoretically, that would be a big deal in sports like basketball with quick cuts, stops, landings, and collisions.
It seems to make sense: high-tops should provide better support for the ankles. Just look at the extra support along the ankle and lower leg.
Some studies have validated the use of high-tops for injury prevention, while other studies (and decades of real-world evidence) have not.
2000 Trial Finds High-Tops “Significantly Reduced” Ankle Inversion
One lab study backed up the idea that high-tops reduce ankle injuries.
In 2000, researchers analyzed the difference in ankle inversion between people wearing high-top and low-top shoes.
A group of 20 male students with no history of lower leg injury ran on a platform that would suddenly invert the right ankle 35°. Each subject repeated the test five times.
Researchers found high-top shoes “significantly reduced the amount and rate of inversion” and concluded the sneakers were “more effective in reducing the amount and rate of inversion than low-top shoes.”
Because of these results, researchers concluded “high-top shoes may help prevent some ankle strains.”
Real-World Evidence is Mixed
Lab tests show high-top sneakers could reduce the risk of ankle injuries. Real world results, however, are more mixed.
One of the largest studies on the subject found no significant difference in ankle sprain rates between athletes wearing high-tops versus low-tops, for example. In that trial, published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 1993, 622 intramural basketball players wore both high-tops and low-tops, and researchers found no correlation between shoe types and injury rates: both high-top and low-top wearers had a similar number of ankle injuries.
What about mobility? Do low-tops make you faster and more mobile? In a 2014 study, researchers analyzed shoes with three collar heights (high-tops, mid-tops, and low-tops) across multiple performance tests (60 yard sprint, cutting drill, and agility ladder) and found “no significant difference” between any shoes for mobility. A separate study found collar height and counter-stiffness had no effect on sidestep cutting, jumping, or agility tasks.
Do high-tops make you jump higher? In 2017, researchers published a study showing shoe collar height did not affect sagittal plane ankle kinematics and had no effect on performance during realistic jumping.
Warming Up & Ankle Strength Are More Important for Injury Prevention
In 2020, athletic trainer Aaron Brown, SPT, ATC, CSCS of MUSC Health Sports Medicine explored the evidence supporting high-tops and low-tops for ankle injuries.
Brown found little evidence showing high-top sneakers could prevent ankle injuries, despite a “common stigma” among athletes that high-tops reduced the risk of ankle injuries. Multiple studies over the last few decades have shown high-top sneakers change ankle muscle activation without actually reducing the risk of ankle injuries.
In fact, Brown found other factors were far more important in determining the risk of ankle injury, including:
- A good warmup
- Ankle and core strengthening
- Balance exercises
All of these factors were more important than collar height when determining the risk of ankle injury. Brown recommended athletes picked what felt best before focusing on a good warmup and proper core and ankle muscle strengthening exercises.
Why Fewer Pro Basketball Players Wear High-Tops Today
Few pro basketball players wear high-tops today. Roughly 6% of NBA players wear high-tops, with the remaining 94% choosing low-tops (61%) or mid-tops (33%).
Why do pros prefer the slimmer profile of mid-tops or mid-tops? Some of the reasons include:
- Mobility and weight. Low-top sneakers tend to weigh less. Even a small difference in weight can allow for quicker cuts and movement. Low-tops also allow for a greater ankle range of motion and less “bulk” on the foot overall.
- Perception of equal injury risk. Decades ago, players wore high-tops because of a perceived lower injury risk. Studies, as mentioned above, have not strongly tied high-tops to fewer sprains. That means athletes feel comfortable choosing low-tops for mobility without feeling like they’re increasing injury risk.
- Advances beyond collar height. Decades ago, the high-top vs. low-top debate was the biggest decision to make when pros shopped for basketball sneakers. Modern sneakers focus on more than just collar height; there’s midsole design, heel counters, outsole traction, and fit/lace lockdown, along with sports medicine innovations like ankle bracing and taping. All of these elements matter more than collar height.
High-Top or Low-Top Sneakers: Which Should You Choose?
P.F. Flyers rose to prominence on basketball courts in the 1940s and 50s, when players realized flimsy canvas sneakers could be practical athletic footwear because of innovations like the Posture Foundation insole.
It’s when iconic P.F. Flyers silhouettes like the All-American, famously endorsed by Celtics legend Bob Cousy, changed the game while cementing our place in basketball sneaker history.
Studies show little correlation between ankle sprain risk and collar height.
Because of this lack of correlation, most modern NBA players choose a lower profile and lower collar height for better mobility.
Today, experts agree there are more important factors than choosing between high-top and low-top sneakers, including warmup habits, ankle strength, and proper overall fit.
It’s also important to remember roughly 70% of people are wearing shoes that are not fitted appropriately. Men often wear shoes that are too long, while women frequently wear shoes that are too narrow.
Get the perfect fit at any collar height. Shop P.F. Flyers high-tops or low-tops today!
