Jaylen Brown Says He Turned Down Nearly $50 Million in Shoe Deals to Launch His Own Brand [Video]

Jaylen Brown announced the launch of his brand, 741 Performance, and his own signature shoe as the NBA season kicked off. Brown’s company is self-funded, which he describes as his “baby,” emphasizing that it represents more than just sneakers. Brown has frequently spoken about ownership, stating his ambition to build his own “Black Wall Street” in Boston.

“741 is more than just a sneaker brand,” Brown said in the official press release. “It’s a statement about independence, creativity, and ownership.”

In an interview with Entrepreneur magazine, Brown shared an inside look into the creation of 741 Performance and what sets his company apart. He recently traveled to South Korea to personally oversee the design, describing it as an all-hands-on-deck experience.

“I think the design is going to be different,” Brown told Kickstarter CEO Everette Taylor in a new series called The Playbook. “I designed everything myself; it’s like my baby. My hands were on this project. I just got back from South Korea because I was at the factory, on the line, making sure things were done the way I see fit.”

Following Team USA’s recent roster selections—which excluded Brown despite three of his teammates being chosen, including Derrick White as Kawhi Leonard’s replacement—NBA fans speculate that Brown is being overlooked by the shoe brand outfitting the national team due to his personal beliefs and an unresolved disagreement. Brown, who was signed with Adidas for the first five seasons of his career until 2021, has been a free agent since then, claiming to have turned down over $50 million in deals.

“I probably passed on almost $50 million in deals to start something on my own—not because I didn’t like the money, but because those deals didn’t align with my goals,” he stated.

Now a trailblazer in the NBA with strong community backing, Brown has started the season off hot, averaging 26 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.