Nike GT Cut 3: Zoom X In A Basketball Shoe

The Nike’s GT Cut line has been very consistent, and excellent 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.

In this review we will be featuring a full tech breakdown and the performance review of Weartester’s own Stanley Tse.

UPDATE: The Nike GT Cut 3 made it onto our list of the most comfortable basketball shoes of the year, our list of the best basketball shoes in terms of traction, and our list the best light shoes.

Nike GT Cut 3 Review

Nike GT Cut 3 Traction

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.

Stanley: The GT Series is what we Hoopers have been psyched about ever since its fruition.

The GT Cut 1, in particular, was literally the best of the best a few years back, to the point where you couldn’t even get the shoe because it was THAT GOOD. With all the hype that came with the CUT 1, the Cut 2 came out and was an extreme disappointment. The performance itself as well as the overall lockdown of the shoe was an afterthought. 

Now we have the brand new latest and greatest – G.T. Cut 3. A complete overhaul after its tumultuous disappointment of the 2. With a brand new cushion implementation of Zoomx and a brand new overall build, Let’s see if the hype and the price tag go along with its performance.

Multi-directional herringbone. Tried and true and it’s the obvious choice and way to go. Can’t say much about it other than this thing BITES. Of course, you’ll need the occasional wiping on dusty floors but it’s solid. I would steer away from outdoors because you’ll burn through the rubber quickly on the blacktop.

Nike GT Cut 3 Cushion

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.

Stanley: First-time iteration of ZoomX Foam inside a basketball shoe and Oh boy did I…not feel much. That’s because it’s encased in a Cushlon carrier. Below the ZoomX in the forefoot to the middle is the TPU plate designed with minimal weight but also maximum propulsion. The forefoot plate hole cutouts are there to allow the ZoomX to expand and return the energy.

It may have been a missed mark but if they “strategically” implemented very minimal line cutouts around the outsole and TPU holes, you’d feel more of the cushion. The feeling is quite firm but steady – only for the fact that ZoomX can be a little bit much based upon experience with ZoomX in running shoes. The shoe is responsive but not super bouncy. I didn’t feel any leg/ knee pain after playing so that’s a plus, but I do miss that full-length zoom feeling.

Again, this is the first iteration so I’ll give the benefit of the doubt, but I expect Swoosh to be in the LAB ASAP to figure out a way for ZoomX to work a little better without bottoming out after a certain amount of miles – mainly about its running shoe counterparts. Overall nice setup, but needs work.

Nike GT Cut 3 Materials

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.

Stanley: The materials are comprised of different aspects which include strategic flywire lockdown cables as well as a large lateral TPU caging wrap for heavy lateral movement. You also have a lightweight microsuede toe plus tonal top for reduced weight as well as a perforated heel counter for additional support. Last but not least the minimal use of outsole rubber as well as TPu plating, ZoomX cushion encased in a Cushlon carrier comprise of the whole shoe.

Nike GT Cut 3 Support

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.

Stanley: Support comes directly from the correct fit and sizing of your shoe, as well as the support pieces such as the embroidery cables combined with a TPU wrap. The ZoomX + Cushlon carrier combo provides ample support without giving too much bounce and instability which balances each other out well with thehp of the TPU plate encased beneath the carrier and foam.

Lastly, the multi-directional aggressive herringbone really gives you the stop-and-go you need with ease. The one caveat I have is the lockdown after play is that I do find myself re-lacing more frequently because of the constant play, it doesn’t seem like my foot is allowing the ZoomX to recover from the constant compression therefore my foot sinks in just a tad which makes my foot feel a little loose. But nothing a re-lacing can’t help, but it’s more of an annoyance. Something to look out for for sure.

Nike GT Cut 3 Fit

Stanley: I went with the model I purchased overseas and they are a generally an EP model (or in this case somewhat wide-foot friendly). I went with my natural size and it does fit True to size. If you wanted a more snug fit, then you can potentially go 1/2 size down, but it is recommended to try it on in-store – especially for those that require additional 3rd party support such as an ankle brace to get your proper sizing and fit.

Nike GT Cut 3 Overall

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.

Stanley: After my G.T Cut 2 fiasco, I’m glad Swoosh went to the drawing board and came up with something GREATER. Will it top the CUT 1? At this point, I don’t think so because that shoe has legendary status written all over it. But the G.T. Cut 3 does breathe a sign of fresh air into the Nike Basketball line. Does the shoe complement its given price? If it was $30 less then yes, as $190 is a little steep.

While it has a lot of bells and whistles, those things need to work more in unison like the G.T Cut 1 did. Did the Cut 3 miss the mark? I wouldn’t necessarily say so. Nike has something to build on here especially trying ZoomX in a basketball shoe for the first time, but what they’ve done so far provides a pivotal point of super excitement for the next iteration of the CUT line.

Will Swoosh be able to match the hype and performance to follow suit and make everything flow? We shall see… In the meantime, Nike…Just Do it.

Buy Nike GT Cut 3