The Nike Terminator Colourways to Know, Ranked

The Nike Terminator is the 1985 Georgetown basketball shoe that put a giant NIKE across the heel, and its return has produced a run of colourways to know. These are the five we rate highest on design and story, led by the Terminator Low PRM 'Black Croc'.

Our pick for the top spot is the Nike Terminator Low PRM 'Black Croc', a low-cut take that swaps college colours for black reptile texture. The other four sit alongside it in the Nike collection at PUSHAS, and each one tells a different part of the Terminator story.

From Georgetown in 1985 to its return

The Terminator was built for Georgetown. After the Hoyas won the 1984 national championship, the team received a shoe of its own, a link that came through coach John Thompson and his ties to Nike. It debuted at the 1985 NCAA tournament as a Georgetown exclusive before reaching the public.

The design reads as a close cousin of the Dunk, with one standout detail: oversized block lettering across the heel. Public pairs said NIKE. The players' pairs said HOYAS. That heel is the shoe's signature.

In 2022 Nike brought the high-top back in its original Georgetown colourway, and new versions followed, from college tributes to textured premium pairs. The reissues use NIKE on the heel.

1. Nike Terminator Low PRM 'Black Croc'

The 'Black Croc' takes the top spot because it shows how far the Terminator can travel from the court without losing its outline. The official colourway is Phantom/Black-Coconut Milk-Desert Ochre: black leather overlays with a reptile-textured finish sit over a lighter Coconut Milk base, so the panel lines of the original pattern stand out sharply.

It is the second Terminator to use a reptile texture, after the 'Cocoa Snake', this time in black. The low cut keeps it easy to wear, and the heel lettering still does the talking. Try it with charcoal trousers, a black overshirt or raw denim.

2. Nike Terminator High 'Georgetown'

The Terminator High 'Georgetown' is the one that started everything. The official colourway is Granite/Dark Obsidian-Sail: grey on the toe, quarter and heel, navy on the mudguard, Swoosh, eyestays and part of the collar, set on a white midsole and a blue outsole.

This 2022 pair returned the shoe in the colours the Hoyas made famous. It is the colourway that explains the whole model. It works with grey sweats, a navy varsity jacket or straight-leg jeans.

3. Nike Terminator High 'Cocoa Snake'

The Terminator High 'Cocoa Snake' borrows its colours and materials from the early-2000s Air Force 1 'Cocoa Snake'. Snakeskin-textured overlays sit on a white leather upper, with black Swooshes and laces and a vintage-toned midsole.

It ranks third because it connects two Nike stories at once: the 1985 Georgetown shoe and a cult Air Force 1 colourway. The official colourway is White/Black-Sail-Cocoa, and it first released in 2022. Pair it with brown corduroy, cream knits or washed black denim.

4. Nike Terminator Low 'Michigan'

The Terminator Low 'Michigan' wears the University Gold and Navy of the Wolverines. A gold leather base sits under navy overlays, the tongue is nylon, the NIKE heel lettering is navy, and the sole mixes white and navy.

It ranks fourth for the way it ties the Terminator back to the college colour blocking of 1985, cut low for everyday wear. It released in 2023. Try it with navy chinos, a grey hoodie or light-wash denim.

5. Nike Terminator High 'St. John's'

The Terminator High 'St. John's' keeps things clean: a white leather upper with University Red overlays and branding. It released in 2023 as part of the run of college-inspired pairs that followed the Georgetown return.

It closes the list because it is the simplest of the five, and that is its appeal. It works with white tees, red knitwear or black trousers.

Who each pair is built for

Shoe	Built for	The look
Terminator Low PRM 'Black Croc'	A dark, textured low-top for everyday wear	Black reptile texture over Coconut Milk
Terminator High 'Georgetown'	The original 1985 story	Grey and navy with a blue outsole
Terminator High 'Cocoa Snake'	Fans of the Air Force 1 'Cocoa Snake'	White leather with snakeskin overlays
Terminator Low 'Michigan'	College colour blocking, cut low	Gold leather with navy overlays
Terminator High 'St. John's'	A clean two-tone high-top	White leather with University Red

Live now at PUSHAS

Stock as of 8 October 2026. All five are live now, with 15 to 19 sizes buyable on each. Every pair is authenticated by hand, so you can shop with confidence. The live listing shows the current price. Start with the Nike Terminator Low PRM 'Black Croc'.

Sizing reports for the Terminator reissues are limited, so check the size chart on each listing before you choose.

FAQ

When did the Nike Terminator first come out?

The Terminator debuted in 1985 as a Georgetown Hoyas basketball shoe, and Nike brought the high-top back in its original Georgetown colourway in 2022.

Is the Nike Terminator the same as the Nike Dunk?

No. The Terminator is a close cousin of the Dunk from the same era, but it carries oversized block lettering across the heel.

Why does the Nike Terminator say NIKE on the heel?

The oversized heel lettering is the shoe's signature. Public pairs carried NIKE, while the Georgetown players' pairs read HOYAS, and the reissues use NIKE.

What colours is the Nike Terminator High Georgetown?

The official colourway is Granite/Dark Obsidian-Sail: grey on the toe, quarter and heel, navy on the mudguard, Swoosh and eyestays, a white midsole and a blue outsole.

What is the Nike Terminator Low Black Croc made of?

It pairs black leather overlays with a reptile-textured finish against a lighter Coconut Milk base, under the official colourway Phantom/Black-Coconut Milk-Desert Ochre.