PUMA Basketball Is Here To Stay

Puma Basketball was restarted in 2018 and began to aggressively sign some of the NBA’s best players. Although this move is uncommon for brands that want to challenge the Nike and Adidas dominated landscape, few were actually able to stick around. It was either the inferior quality or the lack of adoption that eventually pushed infant brands out of the court.

So when my trusted sneaker reviewer (WearTesters) gave his stamp of approval (“This bad boy right here”) for Puma’s second release, the Clyde Hardwood, I was intrigued and wanted to know how this challenger brand hang around with the behemoth of the industry.

First off, the look. Most bball shoes are bulky and scream basketball, but with this one, I can actually use it casually. The mix of leather and mesh was helping the visual aesthetic and making it comfortable as. Performance wise, the traction was covering me in every direction and the support is there. For a $120 shoe, it’s the best value for your money. The only downside is their basic, firm cushion.

In 2020, we’re blessed with the third release, the All-Pro. It’s a carbon copy of Kobe 9, one of the best shoes I’ve ever had, but with a better cushion. Although the material was less premium and colourways worse than the Hardwood, it was even better performance-wise. The Kuzma low model was fire though, and that made me pull the trigger.

Excited to see what Puma has next, but especially how they plan to steal Nike and Adidas’ market share.