<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-10-10</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000320187</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NIKE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>nke</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239159</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DENSON CHARLES D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE BOWERMAN DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEAVERTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>12000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>14.9375</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>46020</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>10400</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>63.22</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>35620</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>1600</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>63.31</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>34020</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-10-13</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-10-13</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>20000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>21.00</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>54020</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-10-13</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-10-13</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>10000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>63.50</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>44020</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-10-13</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-10-13</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>10000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>64.00</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>34020</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>1038</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>ESPP</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>4279</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>Retirement Plan</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>14.9375</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-10-10</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>12000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>14.9375</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1995-07-01</value>
              <footnoteId id="F5" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2004-06-30</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>12000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>0</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>21.00</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-10-13</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
          <value>2003-10-13</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>20000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>21.00</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1996-07-01</value>
              <footnoteId id="F6" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2005-06-30</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>20000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>0</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to Company policy, market sales of the Company stock by officers and directors are permitted only in quarterly window periods commencing on the third business day following each earnings release and ending 30 days later.          </footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Includes 929 shares granted under the NIKE, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan, and 15,314 share granted under the NIKE, Inc. 1990 Sto
ck Incentive Plan.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Shares held in account under NIKE, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F4">Shares held in account under the NIKE, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F5">Option granted for 12,000 shares (after stock split) on 7/1/1994 and became 25% exercisable on each of the first four anniversari
es of the grant date. </footnote>
   <footnote id="F6">Option granted for 20,000 shares (after stock split) on 7/1/1995 and became 25% exercisable on each of the first four anniversari
es of the grant date. </footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>/s/John F. Coburn III on behalf of Charles D. Denson</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-10-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

