Jaylen Brown, Celtics Player, Introduces Own Shoe Line Following Dispute with Nike

The Boston Celtics' standout player is now accepting pre-orders for his highly anticipated signature shoe, Rover, from his newly launched performance brand and sneaker company, 741. This innovative footwear combines cutting-edge technology with a sleek minimalist design. Following in the footsteps of other elite NBA players, the current NBA Finals MVP is joining the trend of athletes asserting their influence in the realms of fashion, culture, media, and entrepreneurship by creating their own signature shoe lines.

More from Sportico.com

NBA's Trail Blazers Latest to Go With Free TV, Team Streaming

Robinhood Inks Third NBA Jersey Patch Deal via Klutch Sports

TBS, WBD Fight Back in Legal Battle to Telecast NBA Games

Brown, known for being intellectual and inquisitive, says he turned down more than $50 million from major shoe companies to found 741, where he will have full ownership and creative control. The former University of California player had been spotted wearing the Rover sneakers throughout the summer without explanation until now.

The launch of his first basketball shoe, which will officially be released Oct. 22, comes after Brown had been a sneaker free agent for the last couple of seasons. His deal with Adidas ended in 2021. He wore pairs of Kobe’s (Nike) and Adidas since then, but opted to cover up shoe logos. His new sportswear venture is his most recent pushback against corporate apparel giants; he has publicly bashed Nike on social media and criticized the company for the handling of the Kyrie Irving antisemitism controversy in 2022.

Brown, a member of the NBA player union’s executive committee, went as far as to suggest that Nike played a role in his omission from the Team USA Basketball roster. The star-studded group ended up winning gold in Paris with help from his Celtics teammates Derrick White and Jayson Tatum, who just released his latest signature shoe with Nike’s Jordan Brand (Jordan Tatum 3). Brown said earlier this week he has used the snub as fuel.

Brown told Complex he was inspired by the late Kobe Bryant, who envisioned creating his own independent shoe company before his death in 2020. The Atlanta native joins other NBA players who have created their own shoe brands including Stephon Marbury and Shaquille O’Neal. Irving and Milwaukee Bucks forward Taurean Prince are among others who have partnered with existing shoe companies to launch their own signature brands.

It’s unclear if Brown’s new Rover shoes and other products will be manufactured out of China, which has spawned brands that have gotten into U.S. basketball over the last decade. Li-Ning, for example, has partnered with a string of current and former NBA stars including Dwayne Wade, Baron Davis and Jimmy Butler.

Brown has had a busy summer after helping to lift the Celtics to their first title since 2008. He launched the Boston XChange, which aims to address the racial wealth gap and empower underrepresented entrepreneurs. He also stepped into the recording studio with hip-hop artist Ferg and dropped a song called “Just Do It”’ which is the trademark slogan for Nike.

Best of Sportico.com

Tennis Prize Money Tracker 2024: Which Player Has Earned the Most?

How Do NBA Contracts and the Salary Cap Work?

MLB's Rules on Gambling: What Happens When Players Bet?

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.