Ask any athlete about the plight of playing a game immediately after buying new shoes, and they’ll tell you all about the discomfort, foot pain, and blisters that come with playing a major game in a brand-new pair of shoes.

Ideally, you’d want at least 3 weeks to break in a new pair of shoes gradually before spending some serious time on the basketball court. 

But what if you don’t have any time? What if you bought a nice pair of basketball shoes to wear for the big game tomorrow? 

Not to worry. The following methods will teach you how to break in basketball shoes overnight: 

• Wear Thick Socks
• Use Your Hands
• Stuff Your Shoes
• Check if the Shoes are the Right Size
• Function over Form
• Jump
• Use a Shoe Stretcher

What Is the Importance Of Breaking In Your Basketball Shoes Before a Game?

Any athlete understands how important it is to break in a pair of new basketball shoes before a game. Blisters, pain, and inferior performance are some of the risks you run by not properly breaking in your shoes. 

Most professionals suggest allowing yourself at least 3 weeks before wearing your basketball shoes during a game. During these 3 weeks, you would gradually break in the shoes by gradually increasing exercise and activity level in the shoes up until the first game in them. 

Sore Feet

A shoe needs to be properly molded onto your foot in order to feel comfortable and for you to perform your best when wearing them. When shoes are brand-new, the shoe hasn’t yet had time to mold to your foot, and this causes pain if you’re playing a game in shoes that aren’t properly broken in. 

Blisters

Blisters can also happen, especially around the sides of your feet and the back of your ankle. This is why investing in good, thick socks is important, as socks help cushion your foot against the friction caused by the shoe rubbing against your foot. 

Sub-par Performance

It’s not hard to see why foot pain during a game can sabotage your athletic performance. If you make the mistake of playing a game in brand-new shoes that haven’t been properly broken in, the pain in your feet will distract from the game and prevent you from performing at your best. 

Tip 1: Wear Thick Socks

With new shoes, especially if you have a big game tomorrow and you don’t have the time to gradually break them in, thick socks are your first (and arguably best) line of defense against blisters and foot pain. 

Socks specifically made for athletes are available in stores, but wearing two pairs of your regular socks will do if you don’t have athletic socks on hand. 

Tip 2: Use Your Hands

As odd as it sounds, you can stretch your new shoes out by hand. 

To do this, first hold the shoe upside down in one hand. Then insert the other hand into the shoe and move your fingers up and down inside the shoe where your toes sit. Do this several times – the longer you spend stretching the shoes out, the better. 

Tip 3: Stuff Your Shoes

Stuffing your shoes with bulky materials – tennis balls, baseballs, cardboard, anything that will stretch out the shoes – will help them stretch out overnight while you’re busy getting a good night’s sleep before the game. 

Tip 4: Check if the Shoes are the Right Size

While this tip may seem obvious, we can’t stress its importance enough. Shoes that are too tight or too loose will cause pain, blisters, and ultimately affect your athletic performance. 

Make sure you have about a half inch of space at the front and back of your shoe. If you have naturally wide feet, any new shoes will feel tighter on the sides, but shouldn’t cause pain. 

Tip 5: Function over Form

It’s easy to get carried away by the flashiest pair of basketball shoes in the store. But remember that the best-looking pair doesn’t necessarily mean that the shoes are right for you. Choose comfort over appearance – your feet will thank you. 

Tip 6: Jump 

This tip is especially helpful for loosening up the toes of the shoes. Jump up and down or even do a few solo drills in the shoes to loosen them up. Just remember to wear thick socks, or else you might develop blisters. 

Tip 7: Use a Shoe Stretcher

This tip is typically for players with wide feet, as many shoes – especially when they’re brand-new – can feel too narrow before they’re properly broken in.

A shoe stretcher is a device usually made of wood and metal that you insert into a shoe to stretch it and make it more comfortable to wear. When used properly, you can gain up to a half-inch of width or length.

Shoe stretchers are available at many retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, Target, and Home Depot. 

What Are the Best Tips To Buying Basketball Shoes?

Breaking in basketball shoes is one thing, but it’s imperative to know what to look for when shopping for the right shoes. 

Consider what type of player you are. Are you a high school athlete with the goal of playing college basketball, or are you a more casual sort who likes to shoot hoops with your buddies on the weekends? Your answer to this question will ultimately affect what shoes are best for you. 

We mentioned above in the article that knowing your exact shoe size is important to finding the right shoes, but it can be hard to know for sure sometimes – especially since shoe size can vary slightly between brands. 

How to Choose the Right Shoes

• Ankle support
  • Good basketball shoes have high tops that protect and reinforce the ankle, decreasing risk of injury such as twisting an ankle or getting hit by a ball or another player’s foot.
• No slipping or pinching
  • Slipping would indicate the shoes are too big, and pinching would mean they’re too small.
• No pain or blisters
  • If the shoes are the right size, you won’t have pain or blisters during regular activity.
• Half-inch of space
  • When standing in the shoes, make sure you have about a half-inch of space in both the front and back of the shoes. Too little space would mean the shoes are too tight while too much space would mean they’re too loose. 
• Know the size of both feet
  • As odd as this sounds, some people have one foot that’s noticeable bigger than the other. According to studies, it’s estimated that between 60% – 80% of people have one foot that’s larger than the other. 
• Cushion
  • You’ll know your shoes have enough cushioning if you’re able to walk comfortably on hard surfaces like concrete or the court.

Should Basketball Shoes Be Tight or Loose?

Neither. Basketball shoes should be comfortably snug, but not tight enough to pinch or loose enough for your foot to slip around inside the shoe. 

The best way to determine if a shoe fits – at least lengthwise – is to check if you have at least half an inch of space in the front and back of the shoe. 

To check this, wedge your thumb into the back of the shoe when it is on and laced up. You should be able to fit your thumb in snugly. In the front, press your thumb down on the toe of the shoe and wiggle your toes to check for the half inch of space. 

When Is It Time to Hang Up a Pair Of Basketball Shoes?

Now that we’ve covered how to break in a pair of new shoes and what to look for when purchasing a new pair, what about letting go of your old pair? How can you tell when your old basketball shoes are no longer wearable? 

While the frequency of replacing your shoes will vary greatly depending on how often you play, there are some signs that it’s time to hang up your old shoes. 

Worn Tread

When the tread starts bottoming out and losing thickness, then the shoe is too worn to reliably play in. Rubber is more durable than foam, so if the hard rubber sole is worn out, then the foam insole has definitely lost its structural integrity. 

Creasing

Mid-sole creasing is when crease lines (or stress lines) form in the outside foam layer of the shoe, above the hard bottom sole. 

Mileage

Most athletic shoes are good for about 500 miles. While this can be easy to calculate for runners, calculating mileage is a bit more difficult for basketball players. 

Fortunately, professionals have done most of the calculations for us. An athlete playing an average game of basketball on a full court runs about 2.5 miles per game. Divide that in half for a half court. Multiply this number per the games you’ve played to see how much wear your basketball shoes still have in them. 

Do NBA players Wear a New Pear Of Basketball Shoes Every Game?

NBA players could get new shoes every game if they want to. However, most players tend to choose a few pairs, break them in, and wear them until they get worn out. This is because most players don’t enjoy wearing basketball shoes that aren’t broken in for the reasons we mentioned above.

Every player is different though, as new shoes every single game can be a confidence booster to many. As they say, you feel good you play good.

Conclusion

If you’re short on time and need to break in your basketball shoes in a jiffy, remember the following: 

• wear thick socks
• stretch the shoes out by hand or shoe stretcher
• jump or do some solo drills while wearing the shoes

Your feet will thank you!