Today's players are faster than ever before. The game moves at a much quicker pace, and skill matters more than size. Creating space is more valuable than ever. The Air Zoom G.T. Cut is designed for the Space Makers—players who create separation to impact the game. Nike Basketball Product Manager Nicole Chow and Nike Basketball Designer Bryant Klug brought us into their space to learn about the new silhouette. We learnt how a conversation with WNBA point guard Sabrina Ionescu inspired the team to build and design a game-changing shoe.

Every season the Nike Basketball design team sets out to develop and provide the right products to help players get the most out of their abilities. As the game evolves, performance basketball shoes have to change to meet different demands and challenges. "The new generation of basketball is so fast. Players have to stretch into multiple positions because the game is more spread out", Nicole said. "We realised our focus needed to change to allow us to help athletes to get where they need to go faster because every split-second matters".

The Air Zoom G.T. Cut addresses a specific problem in the space of women's performance basketball shoes that also reflects a general need. "Before we ever sketch or assign a toolbox of components to a shoe, we always listen to the voice of the athletes and insights", Bryant said. The team met with Sabrina Ionescu to gather insights about what she'd like to see in an on-court shoe. "It wasn't what she said that made us stop in our tracks. It was how she said it", Nicole recalls. Sabrina said, "I'm sacrificing speed for comfort, and there's nothing out there for me".

Bryant Klug
Nike Basketball Designer

To address Sabrina's concerns, the team had to develop a system fine-tuned for speed, while delivering comfort and responsiveness. So, they decided to pair up two tried and true innovations—a full React drop-in sole and a parabolic Zoom strobel. "What this allows the athlete to do is feel stability, cushioning and responsiveness", Nicole said.

The shoe was ready to go, but the team needed to see it in action—so they sent a pair to Sabrina and let her put them to the test. "As soon as I put it on, it was super-comfortable. They were super-light. And that's exactly what I had wanted in a basketball shoe", Sabrina said. They also reached out to NBA star De'Aaron Fox to do a test run of his own. "The Air Zoom G.T. Cut definitely has what it takes to be able to keep up with me and my speed, and the way that I cut", De'Aaron said. The result of identifying a problem, listening to the athletes for insights, and discovering something new in the process helped create something unexpected and unique—the Air Zoom G.T. Cut.