Celtics star Jaylen Brown shoots for the moon, debuts new 741 sneaker alongside Bill Nye
Boston Celtics superstar Jaylen Brown celebrated the launch of his new sneaker and apparel company 741 Performance with an event at the Museum of Science in Boston this weekend, a fitting celebration of what this new venture embodies as well as Brown’s own vision for the future.
The occasion itself served a few purposes. First, Brown used the event to unveil the latest colorway for his flagship shoe, the 741 Rovers — more on that in a moment. It was also a chance for Brown to connect with famous television personality Bill Nye the Science Guy. We will touch on that as well. And yes, releasing a new athletic sneaker alongside Bill Nye the Science guy at the local planetarium might sound like something out of a ChatGPT fever dream.
But the event represented the scope of Brown’s ambition, and marks an almost inevitable step forward in a journey that began even before he joined the NBA.
Celtics Wire spoke with Brown about shooting for the moon with the launch of 741 and what led to this juncture in his career. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, Brown’s older brother Quenton, and a handful of other folks also outlined why they believe Brown is so adept at defying gravity.
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown speaks alongside Bill Nye the Science Guy and Jazzy’s World TV at the Museum of Science at an event for his brand 741 Performance.© Photo C/O Drew Cigna
The evening opened with a showcase of some of 741s existing sneakers and apparel inside the Cosmic Light wing of the Museum of Science, a space dedicated to the study of the Milky Way Galaxy. The programming included a video package designed specifically for the museum’s planetarium, a six-minute loop featuring Brown and the 741 flagship Rover sneakers.
Later in the event, Brown and Nye were interviewed on stage by Jazylyn Guerra, better known as Jazzy’s World TV at the museum’s Omni Theater. Guests ranged from Boston Mayor Michelle Wu to his teammates Jayson Tatum and Derrick White, as well as students from Brown’s Bridge program at MIT. Here, Brown joked about the 741 style, claiming the outer space aesthetic is a little over the top for a good reason.
“If I have to dress like a freaking astronaut to get people to think about the future, so be it,” Brown explained.
That sci-fi motif is indeed an intentional one, and one that goes beyond the love for learning and education Brown says he inherited from his grandmother.
Instead, Brown hopes 741 can disrupt the status quo of the sneaker industry and how business is done more broadly. He believes that decentralizing power structures in fashion, sports, and beyond is an inescapable truth for the future, and something Brown hopes to advance. In outlining that vision, Brown evoked activist Fred Hampton.
“One of my favorite quotes from Fred Hampton is, ‘You can kill a person, but you can’t kill an idea,'” Brown said. “The idea I’m speaking to right now is decentralization. And it’s already here.”
“Decentralization is here, but why not the shoe industry? Why not every industry? I’m challenging everybody to continue this trend and continue this journey. It’s a new world,” Brown said.
Brown’s vision is an audacious one. But it’s consistent with how he has conducted himself since joining the Celtics and the types of projects he has launched in that time. Across education, apparel, economics, and more, Brown has sought to realize systemic change and empower the disenfranchised.
Brown told Celtics Wire he believes 741 is a continuation of how he has always viewed his understanding of the world and his place in it, dating back to his childhood. He confidently asserted his past self would not be surprised at all to see himself standing in the middle of the planetarium dressed in an athleisure space suit, although Brown did admit the challenges along the way have sometimes been a bit of a surprise.
A view of the crowd as Jaylen Brown speaks at an event for his brand 741 Performance at the at the Museum of Science in Boston.© Photo C/O Drew Cigna
“I could always imagine myself building something like this,” Brown said of 741. “But I would have had no idea how much work it actually took to get here. And I haven’t done it alone. I’ve had people help me along the way, I want to make sure I show light on them, too.”
One important person in that journey has been Jaylen’s brother Quenton Brown. The elder Brown has been a partner in many of Jaylen’s professional ventures over the years, and Quenton told Celtics Wire that his brother Jaylen has always been driven to pursue big dreams.
In particular, Quenton lauded his brother’s inquisitiveness and passion. “I think the best thing about Jaylen’s character is his curiosity,” the older Brown brother told Celtics Wire.
“He saw the ball when he was two, he chased that ball, and it led him to the NBA,” Quenton added. “He started learning about astrology and science and history. That led him to Cal Berkley. His curiosity leads him to some of the best place he’s ever been.”
Curiosity may be the mother of invention, but Brown will need more than an active imagination to achieve his stated goals. Disrupting the multi-billion dollar sneaker industry is a lofty endeavor, as are some of his other pursuits. This will demand focus and drive from Brown and his partners.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla told Celtics Wire he has little doubt that Brown is up for the challenge. Mazzulla has known Brown since he joined Boston in 2019, and as a result has had an intimate view of the type of person Brown has grown into as both a public figure and as a man.”I think the thing that I appreciate about Jaylen is that he doesn’t put himself in a box, and he’s not defined by just being an athlete,” Mazzulla said at the Museum of Science. “He defines himself by being who he really is, a well-rounded person who uses his platform to make an impact everywhere. Not just on the court, but in the community, with children, and in life.”
“He’s well-rounded, he’s well-educated, and he’s innately competitive in all environments. He uses that competitiveness to try and be the best in all areas,” Mazzulla added.
Friday’s event did have a practical purpose, and underscored a bit of Brown’s competitive side. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP revealed the new “White Noise” colorway for the 741 Rovers, so called because if you are still sleeping on the future, Brown will “play some white noise to help you keep sleeping.” It’s a cheeky line, and a wink at the edginess Brown is bringing to 741. (These shoes don’t yet have a release date, Brown said, and he hopes these will be available in the coming weeks.)
Brown’s curiosity was also on full display at the event. He and Nye spent much of their stage time discussing the particulars of nuclear fusion, the possibility of life on Jupiter’s moons, and the intersection of physics and basketball. The shoes and 741 often took a backseat to talking about other things, chatting about science simply for the sake of chatting about science.
Once again, there was method to Brown’s choices. In fact, he himself selected the venue for the event, seeking to provide the perfect setting for the evening.
“Jaylen actually chose us to do this launch,” Museum of Science president Tim Ritchie told Celtics Wire. “And I was so thrilled because it shows that he stands for so much. It takes courage to challenge the status quo and launch into something new. He cares about kids, and he will bring audiences to the museum that we can’t bring on our own.”
“Jaylen looks at things uniquely,” Ritchie continued, encouraging his supporters to come to the museum to do the same. “You won’t just see told stuff. You will see new stuff, and you will see it in new ways.”
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown speaks at the Museum of Science at an event for his brand 741 Performance.© Photo C/O Drew Cigna
Perhaps Brown’s ambition and drive can see 741 truly change the way the sneaker industry operates. Only time will tell. And hopefully his genuine passion and curiosity will help encourage Celtics fans to take a deeper interest in science, or even challenge the way of the world as they may see fit.
But Brown is, for now, first and foremost focused on his responsibilities as a basketball player. He said as such during Friday’s events, joking about always prioritizing his “day job” and not letting his “hobbies” interfere with his most important goal. Earlier in the evening, he spoke about his eagerness to win a second NBA title, an critical mission statement with the playoffs just a few weeks away.
Even on the court, however, Brown’s ethos and sense of self is making an impact for those around him. According to his friend and former teammate Tacko Fall, what Brown is pursuing will also help the basketball community.
Fall told Celtics Wire he thinks what 741 represents will impact players in the NBA and beyond. He too echoed what many others said about Brown’s character and ambition.
“This is all very typical of Jaylen,” Fall laughed. “He wants to create his own way, and I think he wants to create a way for others. He’s a very thoughtful guy, and I’m not surprised.”
“I think this is going to open up a lot of opportunities for us all and for other people. That’s really what he wants to do.”
