The G.T. Cut 3 Brings Nike ZoomX Foam to Basketball

The Nike G.T. Cut 3 is designed to help players create separation from their opponent with as much speed as possible. Its new superpower: a Nike ZoomX Foam midsole, appearing for the first time in a Nike Basketball shoe. 

For Nike designers, adapting Nike ZoomX Foam to a basketball silhouette was a detailed process. The G.T. Cut 3 had to balance the foam’s next-level responsiveness with a low-to-the-ground court feel. The design teams achieved both goals: The stack height on the G.T. Cut 3 is lower to the ground than its predecessor, the G.T. Cut 2, and it’s also lighter in weight, for a springy and responsive feeling on the court.

When players make an explosive move to the rim, especially with the rocket power of Nike ZoomX Foam, they need stability. The G.T. Cut 3 features a lightweight textile upper that’s reinforced using Flywire technology to help lock in the forefoot. A TPU component wrapping around the lateral sidewall adds to the containment and helps keep players over the footbed when stopping and cutting on a dime.

“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,” says Jewell Loyd, guard for the Seattle Storm. “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.”

On the outsole, designers created modified herringbone pods for tried-and-true traction where players need it most. The pattern was developed using pressure mapping to inform areas players need traction the most when cutting.

For the first time in the Greater Than Series, the Cut franchise will introduce a lower-priced model into the series with the addition of the G.T. Cut Academy. Designed with similar performance benefits in mind, Nike Basketball designers wanted to build a more cost-efficient model that still focuses on comfort, traction, and style. Featuring a forefoot Zoom Air unit, Renew Foam, and a traditional herringbone traction pattern, the G.T. Cut Academy is designed for athletes who play on multiple courts with various surfaces.

The G.T. Cut 3 will also extend down to kids sizing for both Grade School and Preschool athletes. Like the adult model, the kids model was designed to help young athletes feel confident and secure as they make cuts towards the basket. The kids model also features a Cushlon midsole paired with a modern herringbone traction pattern to help young hoopers feel comfortable yet explosive on the court.

The newest additions to the G.T. Cut franchise were officially unveiled on November 6, 2023 and will be available starting in Spring 2024 on nike.com and at select retailers.