While Nike may hold a prominent place in the world of sportswear, long-time basketball fans know that AND1 shoes remain deeply ingrained in NBA history. But if you were to pit Nike and AND1 against one another in a competition, would one brand stand out as better than the other?
In terms of cost, AND1 sneakers tend to run a little cheaper than Nike’s best offerings. However, Nike remains the more popular choice, largely due to its current prominence in the NBA. Both brands match each other in terms of performance, depending on your values.
To better understand the differences between the two brands, let’s answer some basic questions the average buyer might have about both Nike and AND1 basketball shoes.
Is Nike More Popular Than AND1?
One way to gauge each brand’s popularity would involve simply comparing their annual revenues, then comparing this to the actual volume of units sold per year. We know that Nike earned more than $44.5 billion in 2021, an increase of $7 billion over the year prior. Just over half of this appears to have come from footwear alone.
Unfortunately, we cannot adequately compare AND1’s revenues due to a lack of available information. While Wikipedia provides an uncited estimate of $140 million per year, Owler estimates AND1’s revenues to clock in at only a tenth of that amount. Granted, we don’t need the hard facts to see that both estimates put AND1 at a severe monetary disadvantage.
Going off these numbers alone, Nike appears at least 200 times more popular than AND1. Moreover, Nike wins the popularity contest in terms of more than just dollar amounts. Let’s take a look at each brand’s following on the four main social media platforms used by most well-marketed brands.
| Social Media Platform | Nike | AND1 |
| 36.9M | 1.08M | |
| 9.2M | 19.3K | |
| 229M | 119K | |
| YouTube | 1.69M | 108K |
Do More NBA Players Wear Nike Or AND1 Basketball Shoes?
Not only have Nike and AND1 long been known for their basketball shoes, but they also maintain strong associations with the NBA itself. Back in 1999, an AND1 marketing campaign helped bring dunking to its current iconic prominence. More recently, in 2017, Nike became responsible for supplying uniforms to the entire NBA.
But which brand is more popular with individual players? Once again, Nike remains the more popular choice. While Norman Powell remains the only AND1-sponsored player in the current association, Nike boasts the following endorsements:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Kevin Durant
- Paul George
- Kyrie Irving
- LeBron James
Of course, this all-star lineup excludes countless NBA players who continue to wear Nike basketball shoes on the court despite lacking any formal affiliation with the brand. Adding insult to injury, such unsigned players include among them Jevon Carter, a former AND1-sponsored player who’s since preferred Nike shoes in more than 7 times as many games!
Is Nike More Expensive Than AND1?
Both by average and by their most expensive sneakers available, Nike footwear costs considerably more than AND1 basketball shoes.
It’s easiest to compare the two by men’s shoes, since AND1 provides little selection for women and children. Their website offers adult women the Women’s Attack 2.0 for $90, while kids can wear the Boys’ Take Off 3.0 for just $50. However, when sorting their men’s basketball shoes by popularity, a clear pattern emerges among the top five.
| AND1 Shoe | Price |
| Men’s Tai Chi | $120 |
| Men’s Attack 2.0 | $120 |
| Men’s Pulse 2.0 | $60 |
| Men’s Gamma 3.0 SS | $60 |
| Men’s Take Off 3.0 | $70 |
| Average AND1 Shoe Cost | $86 |
Now, let’s compare this with the average cost among the five most popular Nike basketball shoes at the time of writing.
| Nike Shoe | Price |
| Nike Air More Uptempo | $160 |
| Nike Kyrie Low 4 | $110 |
| Nike LeBron 19 | $200 |
| Nike Kyrie 7 | $130 |
| Nike Zoom Freak 3 | $120 |
| Average Nike Shoe Cost | $144 |
It’s worth noting that Nike boasts a much wider selection. While you’re unlikely to find AND1 sneakers more expensive than those listed above, similarly popular Nike shoes such as the Nike Air Zoom G.T. Cut can run you $400. The most expensive Nike shoe on the market is currently the Nike Kobe 8 System for a whopping $1600.
Are Nike Basketball Shoes Better Than AND1 Basketball Shoes?
AND1 basketball shoes evenly match with Nike, depending on what you want. Of course, quality depends largely on the specific attributes you value most out of your shoes. With both brands offering a selection of sneakers to choose from, your tastes will depend largely on your values.
To provide an idea of how the two brands compare, let’s rank them in a competition between each company’s most popular basketball shoe at the time of writing. In one corner, we’ll have the Nike Air More Uptempo and in the other, we will have the AND1 Men’s Tai Chi will compete for the belt.
| Category | Nike Air More Uptempo | AND1 Men’s Tai Chi |
| Price | X | |
| Popularity | X | |
| Durability | X | |
| Material Quality | X | |
| Weight | X | |
| Traction | X | |
| Comfort | X | |
| Breathability | X | |
| Ankle Support | X | |
| Versatility | X |
In Conclusion: Nike vs AND1
Neither AND1 nor Nike truly stands out as the winner in this competition. If you’re looking for some durable, high-performance kicks that will get you noticed, spring for Nike. Anyone who wants a comfortable, low-cost sneaker that will still largely do its job should opt for AND1.