BOSTON — Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown recently announced the launch of his new performance company, 741, along with his own signature shoes. Brown has had problems with big brands like Nike in the past, and at Celtics Media Day, he teased the new business venture.
Now, the company has been born. The shoes won’t be available to the public until November, but they are available for pre-order, and Brown has been rocking the kicks at Celtics training camp thus far. But he’s not starting the company to make money. He has another motive behind the decision that has nothing to do with the financial side of life.
Brown wants to be a trailblazer.
Jaylen Brown is 'bored' of the same old, same old
After Celtics practice on Friday, Brown unveiled the unique reason why he started 741: He was bored.
“Honestly, boredom,” Brown said. “It'd be great for it to be successful, but even if it's not, who cares? I was just kind of tired of seeing the same old things the deals being constructed the same way. So, hopefully, within the next 20 years, even if this isn't super successful, it sparks other athletes other creators to have the courage to start and build something on their own.”
Jaylen Brown is launching his own performance brand and sneaker called 741 @FCHWPO pic.twitter.com/TQ638llv2D
— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) September 24, 2024
For decades, brands like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armor have dominated the sports space. Some companies, such as Converse and Skechers, have been dipping their toes into the world of signature shoes, but nobody is doing what Brown is.
Athletes are pigeonholed into signing endorsement deals with major corporations, but Brown wants to prove a new option. And he’s not gatekeeping the process.
“I plan on sharing my story,” Brown said. “How resources it took ins and outs of everything that I've gone through. Maybe turn it into a documentary. Something like that. But honestly, just to be a catalyst to what I want the future to look like. More brands, more creativity, rather than these just major corporations, kind of just maintaining it. So that's what I want to do.”
Brown has never been shy about being himself, and this is the ultimate test of that level of freedom.
He’s pleased with how the shoes are feeling so far, and he plans on doling some out to interested players—of whom there are already quite a few.
“They feel great,” Brown said. “Light. Able to move. Some guys already asked me to get them some pairs. So, they drop in a month, I'll make sure that we'll get him out to some NBA guys, some college guys, some younger guys. Just give guys some other options.
“Kind of bored of seeing the same things over and over again. Give guys some more creativity their sneakers.”