Celtics' Jaylen Brown Says Kobe Bryant Inspired Him to Create New '741' Shoe, Brand

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown cited Kobe Bryant as helping to inspire him to launch his "741" performance apparel brand.

"A lot of the reason why I started this shoe company is because I read an article around 2019 or so that Kobe was doing the same thing before he passed," he said on The Stephen A. Smith Show. "I read that he had partnered with the like the CEO of Uber or whatnot, and he wanted to give athletes better percentages and better deals and allow them to be able to invest into the company as it grows. And I thought this is unique."

Brown was a sneaker free agent for years after his endorsement deal with Adidas expired in 2021. While he pivoted to wearing Nike kicks for the most part, he became a critic of the company and went so far as to remove the company's signature swoosh from his shoes.

Brown unveiled 741 in September and his accompanying press release said he had "turned down over $50 million in endorsement deals from major sneaker companies to pursue full ownership and creative control of his own brand."

The three-time All-Star also told Complex's Ben Felderstein at the time he was looking to Bryant with the concept.

"Kobe's journey taught me about being fearless and pushing sports, along with society, to new heights," he said. "That's the mindset I'm bringing to 741."

Prior to his death in January 2020, Bryant was reportedly exploring a similar venture, leaving Nike to launch his own "Mamba" apparel brand.

The New York Times' Kevin Draper reported in April 2021 how Bryant and Nike's breakup was multilayered and perhaps indicative of diminishing returns from his signature line.

"While they were popular with basketball players, Bryant's sneakers were not always the most popular off the court, worn with jeans or sweats," Draper wrote.

"Before Bryant's death, the market for his shoes was fairly niche, said Chad Jones, the co-founder of Another Lane, a marketplace for sneaker collectors. 'Performance wise, a lot of performance athletes loved Kobe shoes, but fashion wise is really the predictor for how well it will sell to the masses,' Jones said."

Commercial demand for Bryant's Nike line soared after his death and his estate signed a long-term deal with the company in 2022.

It doesn't sound as though Brown has any plans to embrace Nike anytime soon.