Nike is again changing the basketball sneaker world as we know it. Nike has always been at the forefront of the basketball world with new technology for an ever-evolving game. From the Nike Blazer to the Nike Air Raid and Uptempo, to the Nike 2K4 Huruache and Nike Hyperize. Nike is again changing how we see the game of basketball from a performance standpoint with the Nike Air Zoom Greater Than Series.
With creating the Great Than Series, Nike footwear designers want to focus on three major principles: fit, ride, traction. Nike designers notice the change in the athlete and how the game has changed over the years. The three-point shot becoming more of a focus, a faster pace of the game, faster cuts, and change in direction and as a result of this, Nike designed a system using material from Nike Running, Global Football, and previous Basketball models.
The GT series was tested by both men and women from all walks of life. From different ages to different countries to different playing styles, all players had similar wants out of a hoop shoe. A low ride but no discomfort, comfort at the toe box, and a light feel. Nike designers are using a curved Air Zoom Strobel to maximize the feel and comfort of the shoe and using a toe to tongue foam package. This foam package helps with the impact of your toe in the toe box when a sudden change of direction happens.
The two players that live in the gaps and represent the playing space of the GT series and will be the players debuting this new sneaker are De’Aaron Fox and Sabrina Ionescu. “Sabrina plays in the gaps and is sort of a puppet master on the court”, stated Nike Lead Designer, Ross Klein. She controls the game and places her players in the perfect gaps to make a play or knows how to create small spaces to make a play herself. Fox is one of the fastest guards in the league and with a little daylight, can make a play when nothing was there before.
Look for the newest innovation in Nike basketball hoop culture to start hitting the courts with De’Aaron Fox debuting the GT series on court against the Spurs and look for the series to hit the Women’s and Men’s Final Four. Stay tuned for release information and reviews!
