Nike Ja 4
Released 8/2026, Low Top, Ja Morant,
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Performance Ratings
7.7
EXPERT RATING
5 reviews
NA
USER RATING
0 ratings
Performance Summary
The Nike Ja 4 has some strong features, but the material quality and breathability hold the shoe back.
Pros
Excellent traction
Quality support and lockdown
Cons
Stiff materials
Upper traps heat
Best Suitable For: Best for players who rely on traction and support above all else.
Category Performance Ratings
9.0
Traction
Traction is good to great. The performance is consistent and very reliable.
7.4
Cushion
The Cushlon 3.0 foam feels low to the ground with decent comfort.
6.4
Materials
Materials and aesthetics look fantastic, but the shoe is not breathable at all.
8.7
Support
Lockdown, containment, and stability are excellent. The Ja frame and the midfoot stiffness keep you secure.
7.0
Fit
The fit is narrow. Some reviewers describe it as stiff.
40%
Outdoor
The outsole is firmer than the Ja 3, but don't expect it to last long.
small
large
Sizing
Fits true to size for most.
narrow
wide
Width
The width is narrow and snug.
Comparison to Similar Shoes:
 Nike Ja 4 |  Li-Ning Way of Wade All City 13 Encore |  New Balance TWO WXY V3 |  Adidas D.O.N. Issue 7 |  Nike LeBron NXXT Gen |  Under Armour Curry 12 | Add shoe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert Rating | 7.7 | 8.9(1.2) | 8.7(1.0) | 8.7(1.0) | 8.7(1.0) | 8.5(0.8) | |
| User Rating | NA | 9.5 | 8.9 | NA | 9.0 | 9.4 | |
| Best Price | $129.99 | $149 | $119.99 | $24.97 $120 | $93.97 $160 | $89.97 $150 | |
| Type of Cut | Low Top | Low Top | Low Top | Low Top | Low Top | Low Top | |
| Weight | NA | NA | 350g - 360g | 400g - 400g | 350g - 360g | NA |
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in 5 shops
$130.00
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in 5 shops
$130.00
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in 3 shops
$140.00
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Expert Reviews of the Nike Ja 4:
Expert Rating: 7.7 (ranks #366 of 412)
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
0
8 - Good
4
7 - Average
1
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
8.2
September 22, 2026
At $130, the Nike Ja 4 is an okay performer. It upgrades the Ja 3 and nails fit, cushion, and support, but traction and material quality hold it back. It's not the best value at this price.
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8.0
August 31, 2026
I'm pleased with the Nike Ja 4. It doesn't blow my mind but delivers on aesthetics and function. Traction is elite. Cushioning, materials, and support get a pass. Not very light or breathable, but a satisfying all-around shoe.
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7.8
September 8, 2026
I enjoyed playing in the Nike Ja 4. It's responsive with great traction and support. But cheap materials and poor durability make it hard to recommend at full price. Wait for a sale.
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7.5
September 22, 2026
The Ja 4 is slightly better than the Ja 3 in key areas. Traction and support are excellent, but the cushion and materials are a downgrade from last year. Know what you want before buying. For me, the safer feel makes these my pick.
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7.0
August 31, 2026
On paper, the components and materials of the Nike Ja 4 are great, but the stiff upper and hard A piece make them painful to break in. Comfort issues hold this shoe back from being great.
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User Reviews of the Nike Ja 4:
No user reviews so far
Traction of the Nike Ja 4:
Expert Traction Rating: 9.0 (ranks #100 of 412)
User Traction Rating: NA
10 - Amazing
2
9 - Great
1
8 - Good
2
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
8.0
September 22, 2026
The traction is pretty damn good on clean courts. It has solid bite but picks up dust. You will need to wipe consistently, or you'll experience mild slides on dusty courts.
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9.0
August 31, 2026
Traction on the Ja 4 is top-tier. The small triangle pattern grips well, picks up little dust, and wipes clean. Stops feel hard and very squeaky.
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10.0
September 8, 2026
The traction is freaking phenomenal. It bites hard on clean courts and handles dust pretty well. Not the best on super dusty courts.
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10.0
September 22, 2026
The traction is fantastic. I had zero issues, and it worked great indoors. It feels durable enough for outdoors, though I wouldn't make it my primary outdoor shoe.
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8.0
August 31, 2026
The traction is very consistent on indoor courts. It grips well and only needs a light wipe when it picks up dust.
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Cushion of the Nike Ja 4:
Expert Cushion Rating: 7.4 (ranks #370 of 412)
User Cushion Rating: NA
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
0
8 - Good
3
7 - Average
1
6 - Subpar
1
5 - Poor
0
8.0
September 22, 2026
The cushioning is nice. Full-length Cushlon 3.0 gives good heel impact protection and a bit of bounce. The forefoot is firmer and a bit dead, but overall it feels fairly average and quick.
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8.0
August 31, 2026
The cushioning uses Cushlon 3.0 and feels fine. It's low to the ground with decent compression and bounce. It breaks in slowly but stays responsive.
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8.0
September 8, 2026
The cushioning has a nice heel compression and subtle bounce. The forefoot is a bit stiff, but overall responsive with adequate impact protection.
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6.0
September 22, 2026
The cushion uses Cushlon 3.0. It's comfortable and has good court feel, but it's less bouncy and offers less impact protection than last year's model. I found it adequate.
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7.0
August 31, 2026
The Cushlon 3.0 has decent pop and comfort. The dense insert killed the comfort for me and even gave me some heel pain.
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Materials of the Nike Ja 4:
Expert Materials Rating: 6.4 (ranks #408 of 412)
User Materials Rating: NA
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
0
8 - Good
1
7 - Average
1
6 - Subpar
2
5 - Poor
1
8.0
September 22, 2026
The materials aren't of great quality. The textile upper feels stiff in spots, but it provides solid containment and stability. Ventilation is lacking.
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7.0
August 31, 2026
The upper barely gets a pass. There's little ventilation, minimal padding, and poor flexibility. Quality feels meh, like a disposable coffee tray.
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5.0
September 8, 2026
The materials feel really cheap and plasticky. They peel and get dirty quickly. It softens after breaking in, but overall quality feels low.
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6.0
September 22, 2026
The materials are mainly synthetic and feel cheap. They start stiff and need break-in. Sometimes the forefoot upper can move away from the midsole. This can cause a sloppier fit during gameplay.
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6.0
August 31, 2026
The materials look and feel high quality and well thought out, but the shoe traps heat. The padded single-panel upper looks great but lacks breathability.
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Support of the Nike Ja 4:
Expert Support Rating: 8.7 (ranks #115 of 412)
User Support Rating: NA
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
4
8 - Good
1
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
9.0
September 22, 2026
Support is solid. The heel setup avoids overcompression, so there's no heel slippage. TPU cage, wide base, outrigger, and shank give excellent lateral and torsional stability.
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8.0
August 31, 2026
Containment is improved, and support feels secure. No major stability issues, and lockdown worked well during movement.
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9.0
September 8, 2026
Support and lockdown are excellent. The Ja frame and stiff midfoot keep the foot contained. I had zero heel slippage and great lateral stability.
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8.5
September 22, 2026
The support is a big upgrade. The shoe locks you onto the midsole with extra support panels, a torsion system, and a sturdy heel. Midfoot and rear containment are excellent.
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9.0
August 31, 2026
Lockdown and lateral stability are excellent. A strong lateral stabilizer and a bottom-loaded shank keep the shoe from rolling and provide solid containment.
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Fit of the Nike Ja 4:
Expert Fit Rating: 7.0 (ranks #395 of 412)
User Fit Rating: NA
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
0
8 - Good
2
7 - Average
2
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
1
8.0
September 22, 2026
The fit is very snug. The half-bootie upper and lacing pull the shoe around your foot for a close one-to-one fit. I had no dead space, and it felt well locked down.
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8.0
August 31, 2026
The fit is snug but secure. Heel slippage is little to none, and lockdown was never an issue.
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7.0
September 8, 2026
The fit is very narrow and initially snug. It breaks in and becomes more forgiving, but it remains a tight, pointy fit.
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7.0
September 22, 2026
The fit is similar to last year and feels a bit low-volume. It has a break-in period, and the last isn't ideal, but once broken in, the lockdown and support work well.
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5.0
August 31, 2026
The fit is narrow and very stiff. A hard foam piece at the toe box digs in and causes cramping until it breaks in.
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Durability of the Nike Ja 4:
User Durability Rating: NA
10 - Amazing
0
9 - Great
0
8 - Good
0
7 - Average
0
6 - Subpar
0
5 - Poor
0
Outdoor of the Nike Ja 4:
Expert Outdoor Rating: 40.0 (ranks #191 of 412)
User Outdoor Rating: NA
Good (100%)
1
Fair (50%)
2
Bad (0%)
2
no
September 22, 2026
I definitely would not use these outdoors.
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fair
August 31, 2026
Outsole is firmer than the Ja 3 and should hold up better. Still questionable for outdoor play but close to perfect indoors.
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no
September 8, 2026
Don't play with these on outdoor courts. The outsole is ripping and won't hold up to outdoor use.
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good
September 22, 2026
It feels durable enough for outdoor play. I wouldn't make it my primary outdoor shoe, but you shouldn't be disappointed.
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fair
August 31, 2026
It grips fine outdoors and feels good to play in. The compound is a bit soft, though, so durability is a concern.
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Width of the Nike Ja 4:
very narrow
1
slightly narrow
3
regular
0
slightly wide
1
very wide
0
slightly narrow
September 22, 2026
If you have really wide feet, go up a half size. Slightly wide, normal, and narrow feet can go true to size.
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slightly narrow
August 31, 2026
It has a pointy toe box. Wide footers may need to size up or try them on in person.
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very narrow
September 8, 2026
The shoe is very narrow and pointy. Wide-footed people should size up a full size.
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slightly wide
September 22, 2026
True to size for most wide footers. Try them on in store to be sure.
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slightly narrow
August 31, 2026
These run narrow to medium. Those with wide feet or 4E should avoid them.
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Size of the Nike Ja 4:
very small
0
slightly small
1
true to size
4
slightly long
0
very long
0
true to size
September 22, 2026
Go true to size for most people.
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true to size
August 31, 2026
They fit true to size. Wide footers may want to size up.
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true to size
September 8, 2026
I went true to my Nike size. It's very narrow, so go up half a size if you don't want it snug. Wide footers should go up a full size.
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true to size
September 22, 2026
I went true to size. True to size for most, but try them on in store if possible.
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½ size small
August 31, 2026
If you have a narrow foot, go true to size. Medium footers should go up half a size.
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