Purpose This study aimed to examine the effects of shoelace tightness on shoelace tension, lower limb kinematics and kinetics, and subjective perception in basketball players. Methods Sixteen male college basketball players performed lateral shuffle movements with their dominant foot landing on a force plate under three shoelace tightness conditions (loose, comfortable, and tight). A motion capture system and a force plate were used to measure lower limb kinematics and kinetics, respectively. A customized wireless shoelace tension system was used to measure shoelace tension at three locations on the dorsum of the foot. Visual analogue scales were used to assess perceived comfort, foot pressure, and in-shoe displacement. Results Shoelace tension increased with shoelace tightness (loose: 13.56 ± 6.21 N, comfortable: 16.14 ± 5.35 N, tight: 21.25 ± 6.19 N) and varied with shoelace position (front: 20.19 ± 5.99 N, middle: 13.71 ± 5.59 N, rear: 17.04 ± 6.95 N). Shoelace tightness also affected some of the knee joint kinematics and kinetics, as well as the subjective ratings of foot pressure and in-shoe displacement (p < 0.05). the loose shoelace reduced the knee inversion angle, while the comfortable shoelace decreased the knee negative power and work. The tight shoelace increased the perceived foot pressure and reduced the in-shoe movement (p < 0.05). Conclusions Shoelace tightness could significantly affect lower limb biomechanics and subjective perception during lateral shuffle in basketball. Basketball footwear designer should consider the incorporation of multiple shoelaces or zonal lacing systems to allow athletes to fine-tune the tension across different areas of the foot.