The key to breaking in new basketball sneakers is wearing them. That's the only way to ensure not only that any stiffness in the sneakers is broken down, but also that the shoe molds to your feet. This way, the shoes become personal, and the risk of injury is decreased significantly. It is also important to be wary of adding substances to the sneakers -- they can damage the material of the sneakers.
Step 1
Check that the sneakers fit properly by trying them on in the store and making light movements in the shoes to replicate your movements while playing.
Step 2
Wear the shoes as soon as you buy them. If the shoes are suitable for outdoor basketball, feel free to wear them outside, too, but you do not want to expose them to high-friction surfaces or water and other things that may erode the shoes' grip. In the case that they are only suitable for indoor basketball, wear the shoes around your home.
Step 3
Tighten the laces as tightly as you would while playing from the first time you put the sneakers on. You want to make sure the shoes mold to your feet and wearing them with loose laces decreases the likelihood they will.
Step 4
Jog lightly in or outdoors depending on the suitability of the shoe.
Step 5
Loosen the shoes' laces before putting them on. Cramming your feet into the shoes can damage shape of the heels. Alternatively, you can use a shoe horn to ensure you do not damage the shoes' structure.
Step 6
Do light ankle exercises in the shoe. For example, while standing, plant your toe in the ground and rotate your heel around in circles. These exercises not only stretch the ankle tissue, but also loosen the shoes' stiffness.
Step 7
Repeat steps 1 to 6 until the shoes have not only been broken in sufficiently, but also take on the shape of your foot.
Tips and Warnings
- Store the shoes in a closet with shoe trees inside them. The shoe trees help the shoes' leather maintain its shape.
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