This week, the sneaker world sees the return of a long unseen old-school basketball classic on the shelves. Originally released in 1985, this shoe was a staple of its era and has deep roots in the legend of the sport. It blazed new trails in the sneaker scene and still holds a special place in industry history.
You might think we’re talking about the Air Jordan 1 “Chicago,” which just last weekend was at the center of the most anticipated release of the year. But we’re not. Amid the excitement for the comeback of one of the most popular sneakers of all time, another basketball classic is making its long-awaited return: the Nike Terminator, the first sneaker Nike ever produced for a college basketball team, and a shoe with an equally mythical background.
Let’s go back to 1984. The Georgetown Hoyas had just won the college basketball championship, with the help of their coach John Thompson. Thompson had been a Nike consultant since 1980 and had his share of influence within the brand. Georgetown would enter the next season as the defending champions, aiming to clinch the title again.
In that year, Nike was already making significant moves in the basketball world. 1985 saw the debut not only of the iconic Air Jordan 1 but also the Nike Dunk. While the Dunk has become a lifestyle shoe in modern sneaker culture, it was originally designed for college basketball teams. Colorways for schools like UNLV and Michigan left a lasting mark and remain highly sought-after on the resale market.
However, Georgetown was different. Georgetown was the champion. And champions don’t just get their colorway; no, champions get their shoe. Thanks to some maneuvers by Thompson, in ’85 the Hoyas hit the court in the blue and gray Nike Terminator: a Dunk high-top, more or less, but with a heel tab that apparently enhanced ankle support. Additionally, it featured a notable detail: while general versions of the shoes over the years have been marked by the NIKE text on the heel, Georgetown players sported those with HOYAS inscribed. The statement was clear: the Terminators were for Georgetown and Georgetown only.
Georgetown’s 1985 season didn’t reach the same heights as ’84, with a loss to Villanova in the championship game. However, the Terminator holds the distinction of being the first shoe signed by a college basketball team. And the only one Nike has ever produced.
Unlike the Air Jordan 1s and Dunks, Terminators don’t have a dozen new colorways each year, although the Georgetown colorway released as part of the “Thrash Metal” pack in 2008 is a standout piece. The Georgetown colorway has been re-released in limited numbers (the latest was in 2014) but remains something of a cult classic compared to other prominent silhouettes from the class of ’85.
It’s easy to say you shouldn’t let this slip through SNKRS app, Foot Locker, and other retailers. But old-school fanatics, who value history over hype, would probably prefer you dedicate to hunting down the originals. Availability is limited.