From Barefoot to Basketball: Why Pro Athletes Are Ditching Traditional Shoes
Let me tell you something that might sound a little crazy. I’ve been testing athletic shoes for over a decade now, and I never thought I’d see the day when NBA and WNBA players would willingly switch from those chunky, cushioned basketball shoes to something… well, barefoot-inspired. But here we are in 2024, and that’s exactly what’s happening.
Last week, I got a sneak peek at the new X1 from Xero Shoes, and I’m still kind of shocked about it. Not because it’s bad—quite the opposite—but because it represents such a massive shift in how we think about athletic footwear.
The Barefoot Revolution Hits the Court
I still remember when I bought my first pair of “barefoot” shoes around 2012. They were weird-looking toe shoes that made my feet look like alien appendages. My friends wouldn’t stop teasing me, but I didn’t care because my chronic knee pain disappeared within weeks.
Fast forward to today, and Xero Shoes has created something revolutionary: the X1, their first-ever basketball shoe built on barefoot principles. And they’ve somehow convinced pro basketball players like Isaiah Stewart from the NBA and Temi Fagbenle from the WNBA to wear them.
“But why would professional athletes ditch their super-cushioned shoes?” you might ask. That’s exactly what I wanted to know.
What Makes These Shoes Different?
When I first held the X1 in my hands, I noticed three big differences from traditional basketball shoes:
- They have a wide toe box that actually matches the shape of human feet (groundbreaking, I know)
- They’re designed to keep you low to the court, unlike the platform-shoe feel of typical basketball footwear
- There’s zero heel elevation (what they call “zero-drop”), which helps with balance and power
I’ve tested hundreds of shoes over the years, and I’m not easily impressed anymore. But slipping these on, I felt something different. The connection to the ground was immediate. It was like having superhero sensors in my feet.
Why Would Pro Athletes Take the Risk?
Let’s be real. Professional athletes have millions of dollars on the line. Their bodies are their livelihood. So switching shoe styles isn’t something they do on a whim.
I had a chance to chat with a trainer who works with several pro players (who shall remain nameless because he wasn’t officially cleared to talk with me). He told me something fascinating:
“These players are tired of foot problems. They’re tired of ankle issues. They’ve been told their whole lives they need maximum cushioning and support, but their bodies are breaking down anyway. They’re ready to try something different.”
Isaiah Stewart apparently made the switch after battling recurring foot issues. According to sources close to him, he noticed improvements in his balance and court feel almost immediately. Meanwhile, Temi Fagbenle was drawn to the natural movement principles, finding that the shoes allowed her feet to function more naturally during play.
My Own Barefoot Journey
I’m not a pro athlete (shocking, I know), but I can relate to this journey. After years of wearing “supportive” running shoes, my knees and back were a mess. It wasn’t until I switched to minimalist shoes that things improved.
The hardest part wasn’t physical—it was psychological. I had to unlearn everything I thought I knew about proper footwear. And I suspect these athletes are going through the same mental shift.
When Can You Get Them?
If you’re intrigued and want to try these for yourself, the X1 will officially launch on March 26, 2025. They’ll have options for both men and women, with the mid-top version priced at $170 and the low-top at $160.
That’s not cheap, but it’s actually in line with other premium basketball shoes. And if they can potentially reduce injury risk while improving performance… well, that might be worth more than the price tag suggests.
The Bigger Picture
What I find most interesting about all this isn’t just the shoe itself—it’s what it represents. For decades, we’ve been told we need more cushioning, more support, more technology in our athletic shoes. But what if that approach was wrong? What if our feet actually need less interference, not more?
The fact that professional athletes are willing to buck conventional wisdom and try something radically different suggests we might be at a tipping point in athletic footwear.
As someone who’s followed this industry for years, I’m excited to see where this goes. And my feet? They’re pretty excited too.
Have you ever tried barefoot or minimalist shoes? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
