Finding the best ankle brace to wear when you play basketball can be difficult. The majority of basketball players that use an ankle brace are looking to stabilize their ankle and to prevent ankle sprains. There are many braces on the market; some better some worse for basketball players. Below I listed which ankle braces I think are best for basketball players as well as the type of basketball player that individual braces would be good for.
The Active A2 Ankle Brace– I am not a huge fan of these stirrup ankle braces. I think they are good at one thing and really only one thing: preventing ankle sprains. These braces however provide very little support and stabilitzation of the ankle and are only effective in one plane of motion in comparison to the lace up braces that can work in all three planes.
Braco Breathable Ankle Brace– This ankle has a very low profile, so if you are looking for an ankle brace that will effect your performance the least this is the brace. You will be giving up some support however, and you would still be at risk of a recurrent sprain. But if you just have a mild problem this may be the ankle brace for you.
Shock Doctor Ultra Lace Up Ankle Brace– This is the cadillac of ankle braces. This ankle will provide you with both support and stabilization. This is one of the strongest braces on the market. However, the trade off is the brace has a high profile, and can be a pain to apply. But if you have a serious problem this really is the brace you should be getting.
McDavid Lightweight ankle brace– This is the brace that I most strongly recommend for the athlete. While it may not provide the support of the shock doctor it is not as low profile as the Braco. This brace brings the best of both worlds; it will stabilize your ankle, while having minimal effect on your athletic performance.