Nike GT Cut 3: Zoom X In A Basketball Shoe

 The Nike Cut 3 is the first basketball shoe to feature Nike’s Zoom X foam and has the potential to be a very solid basketball shoe.

Release Date: 2023

Price: $190

8/10

Total Score

The Nike’s GT Cut line has been very consistent, and very good all things considered. The Nike GT Cut 1 was a banger and a favorite among NBA players, the GT Cut 2 was more polarizing but still had some interesting performance features.

The Nike GT Cut 3 looks like it might be the best Cut model to date. It’s the first Nike Basketball shoe to feature Zoom X, one of Nike’s most popular running cushioning systems. That’s enticing, but there isn’t much else. These bad boys are also $190, which is steep. But they might just be worth the price.

Nike GT Cut 3 Review

Nike GT Cut 3 Tech Specs

Nike GT Cut 3 Traction

Traction on the GT Cut 3 will almost certainly perform very well indoors. There are two sections to the GT Cut 3’s traction (in this colorway one red and one white) but both are built with translucent rubber and feature an aggressive herringbone traction pattern. The rubber Nike has used on this model is super tacky which bites the court very well, but does tend to pick up dust on not-so-clean playing surfaces.

The good news is that there is plenty of space between the different lines of the traction pattern so debris does not cake up too much as you play, but you will have to wipe from time to time.

As far as outdoor use goes, the GT Cut 3 should stay on the hardwood. The rubber is on the softer side, and the traction pattern is not deeply set so it will grind down quickly on abrasive surfaces.

Nike GT Cut 3 Cushion

The cushioning system of the GT Cut 3 is the most interesting aspect of the shoe. How does Zoom X perform in a basketball shoe? Pretty darn well. For lack of a better term, it is just a “fun” cushioning system. It’s bouncy and squishy and it just makes you want to go out and play basketball as soon as you lace up the shoe. The dense phylon housing helps keep the Zoom X foam stable and reactive.

Now, the one thing to take into account is that the heel of the shoe is on the narrower side. This, combined with the the superb compression of the Zoom X can create some instability, but you have to seek it out. Basketball is played mostly on the balls of your feet and the back half of your feet don’t get in the mix much. It isn’t an issue at all, but it is something you should keep in mind.

All in all, yes, Zoom X works well in a basketball shoe, and it is one of the springier and more agile feeling cushioning systems out there.

Nike GT Cut 3 Materials

Materials on the Nike GT Cut 3 are nothing special. The shoe is built with a combination of textiles, heat-welded materials, and synthetics. Par for the course when it comes to modern basketball shoes. They are light, well-ventilated, and should offer enough containment, but none of them are premium in any way. Especially considering the GT Cut 3 retails for $190, the material selection feels a bit disappointing.

The toe and the tongue area are constructed with a synthetic Nubuck, which does add a dash of faux premium feel, but that’s about it. Another odd choice is the rubber of the shank plate.

The GT Cut 3 features a bottom-loaded shank plate, but the rubber Nike chose to use is very soft, and should offer little in terms of torsional rigidity. It doesn’t seem like it will be an issue in terms of performance, but if you are looking for elite torsional support, this may not be the shoe for you.

Nike GT Cut 3 Support

All the individual support features on the Nike GT Cut 3 are rather basic, but they all work together to offer a secure and speedy experience on court. We have a wide and stable base, the Zoom X is properly caged to keep it stable and reactive, the shank plate is on the softer side but it does expand into the forefoot of the shoe, we have multiple lace cables in the forefoot of the shoe for enhanced lockdown, and the fit and build also aid in this aspect.

None of these details is anything elite or groundbreaking, but this setup will work well for the vast majority of hoopers out there. They will feel especially great if you are looking for an agile, bouncy, and fun shoe to zip around the court with. On the other hand, if you need a beefy basketball shoe designed for a more powerful and forceful style of play, this is probably not the shoe for you.

Nike GT Cut 3 Fit

The Nike GT Cut 3 fits true to size, so go with whatever size you usually use with Nike. It’s a slightly narrow shoe, and it does fit snugly (not super snug), so if you anticipate this being an issue for you, the best thing would be to go into a store and try these on. But, if you are ordering online, your safest bet is going true to size.

Nike GT Cut 3 Overall

The Nike GT Cut 3 is a fun shoe. It’s bouncy, it’s agile, and it’s just one of those models that, as soon as you lace it up, makes you want to sprint up and down the court. The Zoom X does not disappoint, and Nike has done a very good job of implementing it into a basketball shoe. It’s soft and squishy, but by no means feels unstable or slow on court.

Materials could have been of higher quality, especially considering the price tag, and it’s somewhat of a niche performance model but all in all the GT Cut 3 is a very solid basketball shoe, and it might just be the best GT Cut model to date.