Nike Brings Innovative ZoomX Foam Technology to Basketball With the G.T. Cut 3

The shoe is the third iteration in the 2021-released G.T. series, which stands for “Greater Than.” The Nike Greater Than series offers basketball shoes that focus on a specific aspect of the game. While all the G.T. Series shoes provide the ability to cut, run and jump, each model gives players a performance boost where they need it most.

To adapt the ZoomX Foam for a basketball shoe, the G.T. Cut 3 needed to incorporate the responsiveness of the foam while giving the shoe a super low-to-the-ground feel. The resulting sneaker feels lighter in weight and more responsive than its predecessors, the G.T. Cut 2 and the Air Zoom G.T. Cut.

When making quick cuts on the court, you need a shoe that’s not only powerful but also stable. For this, the shoe was designed with a lightweight textile upper reinforced with Flywire technology to lock in your forefoot. Adding to the stability of the G.T. Cut 3 is a TPU component that wraps around the lateral sidewall of the shoe, while the outsole features modified herringbone pods. Pressure mapping was used to determine and develop the pattern, giving you the traction you need where you need it.

Seattle Storm guard Jewell Loyd can attest to how the shoe elevates her on-the-court performance. “The G.T. Cut 3 enhances my ability to stop on a dime and gives me that quick first step, which has always been a part of my game,” Loyd says. “I’m not the tallest, but my ability to get to spots quicker than the defense helps me to get my shot off when I want to and allows me to make a play on defense when I need to, helping me elevate my game.”

When developing this latest iteration of the G.T. Cut Series, designers kept inclusivity in mind. For the first time, Nike created a G.T. model at a lower price point. Like the G.T. Cut 3, the G.T. Cut Academy is a high-performance shoe focused on comfort, traction and style. The shoe includes a forefoot Zoom Air unit, Renew Foam and a traditional herringbone pattern for traction, making it appropriate for players shooting hoops on courts with a variety of surfaces.

The G.T. Cut 3 youth line features models for both older and younger kids. Designed with similar features as the adult G.T. Cut 3, the kids’ models feature a Cushlon midsole and a modern herringbone traction pattern. They are designed to help young players feel confident, comfortable and secure while cutting toward the basket.

First unveiled in November 2023, these models in the Greater Than franchise were released in January 2024 and are available via Nike.com and at select retailers.

Words by Erica Brooke Gordon