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After a period of teasing throughout the offseason, Jaylen Brown has formally announced the launch of his own performance sneaker brand, 741.
741’s first sneaker, the Rover, is now available for pre-order with deliveries scheduled to begin in late-November. The sneaker with jewel-like embellishments had previously appeared in Instagram posts from this year’s NBA Finals MVP but with little known about it. Unspecified product will also go on sale on October 22.
According to a press release, Brown turned down more than $50 million in endorsement brands from unnamed sneaker brands in order to launch his own. The company’s name is derived from the numbers 7, 4 and 1 appearing frequently throughout his life, and Brown plays with the no. 7 for the Boston Celtics.
“Kobe [Bryant]’s journey taught me about being fearless and pushing sports, along with society, to new heights,” Brown said in the release. “That’s the mindset I’m bringing to 741.”
The 741 Rover features two layers for its upper, as an engineered knit cover made with abrasion-resistant yarn sits above an inner layer with arch bandage that doesn’t stretch and a dynamic lacing system.External and internal heel counters, both of which are molded and heat-sealed, hold the foot in place. The latter is said to provide as much stability as a hiking boot and distributes the pressure underfoot to optimize the effective ness of the “hyper gravity critical” EVA foam midsole. A proprietary translucent rubber makes up the outsole, which is abrasion-resistant and features flex grooves and torsional flexibility.
Men’s sizes are priced at $200 and big kids’ at just $70, which 741 says is at least 40 percent lower than its competitors. “I want 741 to be a brand that gives back and makes sure kids of all walks of life can have shoes they love, without the crazy price tags,” Brown said.
741 outlined four core goals that it says will be groundbreaking for the sneaker and apparel industry. It seeks to make technologically advanced, performance-driven products without compromising design or functionality, introducing a new economic model to give endorsed athletes more ownership and control, ensuring an affordable price point and providing career opportunities in underserved communities.
Although no athlete endorsors beyond himself have been announced, Brown wants to offer better financial terms and more creative freedom. “741 is more than just a sneaker brand,” Brown said. “It’s a statement about independence, creativity, and ownership.
Brown had been a sneaker free agent since 2021, and even though he’s tended to favor Nike sneakers on the court, he’s had them customized to remove branding and has criticized the brand publicly on a number of occasions. His critiques began when Nike dropped Kyrie Irving because he had shared a documentary to social media with anti-semitic views and dragged his feet before apologizing.
This summer, Brown suggested that he hadn’t received an invite to play for Team USA at the Olympics because of the influence of Nike, the team’s outfitter.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
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