Nike Basketball is bringing back Flight, Force and Uptempo as the foundation for its footwear range, with three new G.T. models introducing the approach. Each name identifies a different performance priority. Flight focuses on explosive movement and cushioning landings, Force supports power through stability and containment, and Uptempo emphasizes court feel and quick reactions. The G.T. Series launches February 11 in North America, with global availability to follow.
SNEAKERS
The framework starts with how athletes move and what they want to feel underfoot. Nike developed it through insights from elite youth players around the globe, then validated the approach with leading athletes. The three builds also inform signature footwear, with each athlete’s movements, preferences and identity shaping the final shoe.
Ross Klein, Nike Basketball’s VP and Creative Director, sees the foundation as a way to make footwear choices more intuitive and personal. “It’s always pushed us to think differently, experiment and imagine what’s possible,” he said of basketball. The G.T. Flight, G.T. Force and G.T. Uptempo put that thinking into three distinct constructions.
G.T. Flight
The G.T. Flight addresses the different ways players propel themselves around the court, from rising for a rebound to attacking the rim or intercepting a pass. Its cushioning pairs a full-length Zoom Strobel with Cushlon 3.0 foam, supporting explosive movement and absorbing impact when the player lands.
A textile bootie, TPU cage and sockliner provide support and comfort around the foot. Rubber traction underfoot helps players apply that movement to the court. Within the signature range, Nike currently aligns LeBron James and Ja Morant with Flight, connecting the build to athletes whose games demand explosive lift.
G.T. Force
The G.T. Force supports players who rely on power, athleticism and sustained effort at both ends of the floor. Nike will offer high- and low-top versions, giving players two collar options within the same performance category.
ZoomX 3.0 foam supplies responsive cushioning and comfort, while a synthetic armor upper contains the foot during forceful movement and rapid transitions. A TPU window, shank and rubber cupsole complete the construction. Stability and containment guide this build, which also informs the signature footwear approach for A’ja Wilson and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
G.T. Uptempo
The G.T. Uptempo focuses on the instant between reading a play and reacting to it. Its lightweight construction keeps the foot close to the floor, helping players feel the court during sudden acceleration, stops and changes of pace.
Nike combines ZoomX 3.0 foam with an Air Zoom Strobel and a separate heel Air Zoom unit for responsive cushioning. An engineered mesh upper, Cushlon carrier, TPU window and shank support the construction, with a rubber outsole underneath. Devin Booker, Caitlin Clark, Kevin Durant and Sabrina Ionescu currently align with Uptempo, reflecting the build’s emphasis on rhythm, precision and reactive speed.
These athlete groupings can change as their games develop. Across the range, Flight, Force and Uptempo establish a shared performance framework, while signature models adapt that framework to individual athletes. Players can use the same categories to compare cushioning, support and court feel according to their own preferences.
The Nike G.T. Flight, G.T. Force and G.T. Uptempo launch February 11 in North America through nike.com and select retailers. Nike will announce a subsequent global launch.
