Nike Giannis Immortality 4: A Great Budget Option

Giannis’ signature budget line has been one of the most consistent and trusted budget lines in the past couple of years. The main reason for this is that each model has shared several similarities with its predecessors, both in terms of design and in terms of on-court performance. Nike invested a lot of money into the initial build with the intention of re-purposing it through multiple years of the Immortality line.

The Immortality 3 was, in my opinion, a very solid performance basketball shoe that held up well outdoors for just $90. There was nothing one would call elite on the Giannis Immortality 3, but it was a very versatile and well-rounded basketball shoe.

Now, although the Immortality 3 and the Immortality 4 are very similar visually, several important updates affect the latest version’s overall performance. Let’s jump into the review and see what’s new.

You can check out the full Spanish video performance review here.

UPDATE: The Nike Giannis Immortality 4 made it onto our list of the best outdoor basketball shoes of the year, our list of the best Nike basketball shoes, our list of the best value basketball shoes, our list of the best basketball shoes for shooting guards, our list of the best low top basketball shoes, and our list of the best budget basketball shoes.

Nike Giannis Immortality 4 Performance Review

Nike Giannis Immortality 4 Traction

The traction on the Immortality 2 was solid and that shoe’s best attribute overall, so I was surprised to see an updated setup on the Immortality 3. The updated version 3 likewise worked great and proved to be resilient outdoors; so, it made sense that the Immortality 4 would keep the same general setup. If anything — though Nike hasn’t confirmed a formula change — the rubber compound used on this outsole feels a bit tougher.

The Nike Giannis Immortality 4 is equipped with the same wavy traction pattern that changes orientation in order to cater to the specific traction needs of the different portions of the outsole: vertical lines where you need lateral coverage and horizontal where you need linear coverage. One tiny detail that is different, and that in no way influences the shoe’s performance, is the inclusion of the name Eva at the midfoot (for Giannis’ daughter who was born between the release of the 3 and the 4).

On top of that, we have a thick slab of relatively tough rubber, which again feels slightly tougher than that of last year’s model. This mix of pattern and materials offers excellent multidirectional coverage on court. And, as far as durability goes, it indeed held up as well as the Immortality 3 — which means that it is comfortably above average than most other basketball shoes out there. I thoroughly tested the shoe indoors and outdoors, and the traction pattern held up very well on the blacktop. I think it’s safe to say that, in terms of traction, this is going to be a very decent outdoor option.

One thing to keep in mind is that there are certain portions of the traction pattern that feature nubs that work great, but they do have a tendency to rip off over time. I haven’t had any issues to date, and, given how small those portions are, I don’t think it will hugely affect the traction’s performance. But it’s something to consider.

Nike Giannis Immortality 4 Cushion

The Giannis Immortality 3 featured a full-length slab of Renew foam as its cushioning. The formulation and implementation of the Renew in the Immortality 3 felt great considering that Renew is one of Nike’s budget foams. This version of Renew felt more akin to Puma’s Nitro foam. It is much more plush and compresses nicely underfoot, while still offering a stable and reactive ride.

So, the Nike Giannis Immortality 4 features the same exact setup on paper; however, I felt like Nike again tinkered with the formulation of the foam, given this Renew’s slightly plusher and denser feel underfoot. It is by no means a “max cushion setup”, but I appreciate the extra softness. The new cushioning likewise means that the Immortality 4 will be much better suited for outdoor play and should help keep your legs feeling fresh after extended play on those hard surfaces.

Nike Giannis Immortality 4 Materials

Here we find a major change and, in my opinion, an upgrade. I enjoyed the materials used on the Immortality 3, especially when comparing them to the build of the 2. But at times, they were too thin and offered less containment than I needed. I had zero issues in the Immortality 4. The shoe still features a primarily textile build, and everything on the shoe is cheap and synthetic; but the build is much more robust overall.

The shoe is primarily constructed with tightly woven textile material that’s reinforced with thick stitching throughout. The heel of the shoe is built in a similar foam/neoprene-style material to what we had in the Immortality 3, but the way the heel was molded is much better here in the 4. The Immortality 3 gave me a major blister as it broke in because of how it was padded and conformed (less successfully) to my heel. I had no such issues in the 4.

As far as $85 basketball shoes go, the material package of the Nike Giannis Immortality 4 is on point.

Nike Giannis Immortality 4 Support

Support and containment are great in the Immortality 4, especially considering the price and the fact that there is nothing groundbreaking integrated into the shoe. The Immortality 4 just gets the basics right. The robust upper offers great lockdown. The substantial fuse overlay over the toe box has you covered on hard linear stops, the reinforced stitching and the implementation of the logo on the side of the shoe boosts lateral containment, and the improved heel molding keeps your heel in place at all times.

On top of that, we have a very wide and stable base underfoot. Within the dense Renew midsole, there is a substantial, TPU midfoot torsional bar, and there are portions of the midsole that wrap the upper at the midsole and heel of the shoe. This is all basic stuff, but everything works great together.

For a basic, textile-based, budget basketball shoe, the Nike Giannis Immortality 4 feels super secure on court. I’m 6’3″, 230 lbs, and support is normally an issue for me in more minimal textile shoes. But I had zero issues with the Immortality 4.

Nike Giannis Immortality 4 Fit

The Nike Giannis Immortality 4 fits true-to-size and offers a nice snug 1-to-1 fit, so go with whatever size you usually use with Nike. The shoe takes zero time to break in and conforms to your foot. The fit is another reason why the shoe’s lockdown is so effective.

Nike Giannis Immortality 4 Overall

The Nike Giannis Immortality 4 is a very solid shoe in general, and it is all the more attractive considering that it retails for just $85 — which is as inexpensive as it gets for a modern hoop shoe. Traction is great and pretty durable outdoors, cushioning is solid, and lockdown is excellent. The biggest drawbacks of the Immortality 4 are the cheap materials and the fact that it is so similar to the Immortality 3.

As good as I think the Immortality 4 is, if you already own the 3s, and they are still in good condition, the two are so similar that it would be hard for me to recommend upgrading. But, if you are looking to pick up a basketball shoe that is in the lowest price bracket and will still give you great on-court performance, this is a great pick. The Giannis Immortality 4 is geared towards lighter, shiftier players, but the cushioning setup and lockdown will also make it attractive to some bigger hoopers who are looking for a secure and agile ride.