Nike Terminator Low vs Dunk Low: How They Differ

The Nike Terminator and the Nike Dunk are both 1985 Nike basketball shoes with college roots, and both are now worn as everyday lows. The Terminator is the one with oversized NIKE lettering across the heel; the Dunk is the college team shoe that Nike launched under the Be True To Your School campaign.

To put them side by side, we have the Nike Terminator Low PRM 'Black Croc' and the Nike Dunk Low 'Georgetown'. Browse the wider Nike range at PUSHAS, or the Nike Dunk Low collection for more Dunks.

Two shoes, one year

The Dunk arrived in 1985 as a college team shoe. Nike pitched it through Be True To Your School, with colourways for programmes such as Michigan, Kentucky and UNLV. Peter Moore designed it, and it began as a high-top that he originally wanted to call the College Color High.

The Hoyas had won the national championship in 1984, and coach John Thompson had close ties to Nike. The team received a shoe of its own: the Terminator, which also dates to 1985. It is similar to the Dunk, and the two share the same era and the same college-basketball purpose. Nike brought the Terminator back in 2022 with a Georgetown high-top, and low-tops followed.

How the design differs

The heel is the quickest way to tell them apart. The standard Terminator carries NIKE in large letters across the back, while the pairs made for Georgetown players carried HOYAS there instead. The Black Croc follows the general-release pattern, with big NIKE lettering across the heel.

The front of the shoe tells a second story. The Black Croc pairs a cream leather base with black croc-embossed overlays and a black croc Swoosh. The Dunk Low 'Georgetown' goes the other way: dark navy overlays and a navy Swoosh sit over a grey base, with a white midsole.

Materials on these two pairs

Both are leather lows. The Black Croc uses black leather overlays with a faux-croc scale texture over a pale base, set on a sail midsole. The Dunk Low 'Georgetown' has a smooth two-tone leather upper, and the pair released in 2021.

Fit and how to wear them

Sizing reports for these exact pairs are limited, so start from your usual Nike size and check it against the complete Nike size guide before you choose.

For styling, these are suggestions rather than rules. Try the Black Croc with straight-leg black denim and a grey sweatshirt, or with cream chinos and a black knit that picks up the midsole. The Dunk Low 'Georgetown' works with light-wash denim and a white tee, or with grey sweatpants and a navy overshirt that echoes the overlays. On the Terminator, keep hems short or cuffed so the heel lettering stays in view.

Who it is built for

Shoe	Built for	Wear it with
Terminator Low PRM 'Black Croc'	Texture and oversized NIKE heel lettering	Straight-leg black denim and a grey sweatshirt
Dunk Low 'Georgetown'	Navy-on-grey colour blocking over a white midsole	Light-wash denim and a white tee
Terminator Low PRM 'Black Croc'	A black-and-cream palette with croc texture	Cream chinos and a black knit

Live now at PUSHAS

Stock as of 21 October 2026: Nike Terminator Low PRM 'Black Croc' in 18 sizes from US M 4 to US M 13; Nike Dunk Low 'Georgetown' in 16 sizes from US M 5.5 to US M 14. 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'.

Want the full story of the Black Croc? Read our Terminator Low 'Black Croc' story.

FAQ

What is the difference between the Nike Terminator and the Dunk?

Both are 1985 Nike basketball shoes with college roots. The Terminator is the Georgetown team shoe and is recognised by large NIKE lettering across the heel on the general release, while the Dunk was introduced as a college team shoe under the Be True To Your School campaign.

Why does the Nike Terminator have NIKE on the heel?

The general-release Terminator carries NIKE in large letters across the heel. The pairs made for Georgetown players carried HOYAS there instead.

Is the Nike Terminator Low true to size?

Sizing reports for these exact pairs are limited, so start from your usual Nike size and check it against the complete Nike size guide before you choose.

When did the Nike Dunk Low Georgetown come out?

The Nike Dunk Low 'Georgetown' released in 2021, in a two-tone leather build with navy overlays over a grey base.

How do you style a Nike Terminator Low?

Try the Black Croc with straight-leg black denim and a grey sweatshirt, or with cream chinos and a black knit. Keep the hems short or cuffed so the heel lettering stays in view.