Jaylen Brown (1996, Georgia, USA) was once told that he was too smart to succeed in the NBA. And not only has he succeeded, he has eaten it up. He is one of the most talented players, dominating the 2024 season that ended with the Celtics’ ring. A musician and chess player who was once offered a scholarship to NASA, he has launched 741 Performance, his own sneaker brand that has burst onto the market. Present in Malaga for an NBA camp and an event at the fabulous Basketball Emotions store, he had time to talk to MARCA.
Before the interview begins, and while we put the microphone on him, Jaylen Brown has time to say “I love Malaga” in English, and then in Spanish: “Spain is a great country”. Spanish is one of the seven languages spoken by a player with a prodigious mind: “I just like to learn. I studied Spanish at Berckley and, since then, I try to improve it”. And so we begin the interview.
QUESTION.How did the idea of creating your own sneaker brand, 741 Performance, come about?
I was just really inspired by Kobe Bryant. Before his passing, he had a disagreement with the shoe company he was with. I remember reading articles that talked about him leaving Nike and that he was willing to start his own brand to empower athletes. And I wanted to be, before he passed away, one of those athletes. For me it was just picking up where he left off.
Do you see it as a kind of legacy, from Kobe and you to the world?
In part, yes. I think the world is changing. Athletes, artists and creators can take the reins and build institutions and infrastructure around their talent. Instead of having to rely on others, Kobe kind of personified that. What he did in storytelling and production by winning an Oscar, what he was doing or preparing to do… And the sneaker industry, also the energy drink industry, with BodyArmor. Kobe was an inspiration to me and that’s what 741 is now.
LeBron, Curry and Durant will leave a big void, but I see the future of the NBA with optimism, there is a great generation of young players
You have to fight with big enemies in the sneaker industry, but you are gaining space. Your firm is already known.R. Exactly. For me, it’s about building a better future for the next generation. If 741 is successful, great! But I don’t care (in Spanish). The most important thing is to inspire the next generation to be brave, to be creative, to take responsibility and to understand their values. That’s the importance of 741.
Do you get very involved in the designs of the shoes?
Yes, yes. I designed almost everything. I have a team that contributed great work, but I was very involved. I put a lot of time and effort into bringing this to life. My sneaker. But I’m really looking forward to collaborating and having other people on my team. Or to join in the future, because it takes a long time to design, carry out the process and make decisions. So as we continue to scale at 741, we’ll be looking for like-minded partners to join us on this journey.
How is your injury? I think you have already started training.
Yes. You know, all good and slow (in Spanish). But I feel good. I’m taking it easy. Every day we take advantage of keeping the right focus and mentality. Injuries can make you doubt your ability. It’s been a big mental challenge for me. Every day I wake up with the goal to be the best, to be the best version of myself. So I’m really looking forward to next season.
What are you expecting from next season?
I hope to win. I hope to try to maximize my potential, make the most of what my teammates bring, be a good teammate, help those around me get better, win some basketball games and see what happens. Sometimes there are a lot of factors that come into play. I understand that I’m patient, I’ll have to get all the way back, but hopefully I’ll be ready for the course soon.
Hugo Gonzalez will be up to the task, he has the potential to be a solid NBA player, but no one will give him anything. I’m looking forward to getting to work with him
You mentioned one of your strengths, making your teammates better, as Kobe Bryant did.
I agree. I always try my best (in Spanish). What has made me try my best is to make my teammates better. We do this together. I have always believed that the key to a good leader is how you improve and elevate those around you. And it’s not just in basketball, I think it should be that way in life. It’s about knowing what you have to do to make the people around you better. I’ve always had that mentality, no matter what time in my life, even now, I’m trying to do my best to improve in whatever way I can this event.
The origin of the name 741 Performance
In the interview, Jaylen Brown explains that in the idea of founding his own brand, he was very inspired by Kobe Bryant. The name comes from his fascination with numerology. In 741 performance, the 7 represents spiritual awakening, wisdom and understanding (it is his number in the NBA), the 4 symbolizes hard work, stability and practicality while the 1 represents new beginnings, creativity and independence. Together, the three numbers sum up Jaylen Brown’s values.
What has the journey been like for Jaylen Brown from being a kid to NBA stardom? I guess it’s not been easy.
No, it’s not easy. A lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice, discipline, but my favorite phrase is “faith, perseverance”. Hard work pays off. That’s my social media. I’ve written it on my sneakers since I was a kid. Faith, persistence. All work pays off if you have faith in yourself, be consistent every day. Work, strive and make sure you do the right thing. And over time, things will pay off. I live with that mentality, I am that mentality. And I look to the future and apply it to anywhere, court, classroom, shop or room where faith, perseverance and hard work will pay off.
You’ve practically achieved everything: a championship, being Finals MVP, All NBA, All Star… what motivates you?R. God (in English).
God is very present in your life…
I think my relationship, my faith, is what drives me. It’s just tapping into my purpose, trying to help and inspire people through basketball, bringing people together. But overall, what inspires me the most is the next generation. I want the next generation of athletes to be better, smarter, to care more about their community, to behave like great young men and women.
There is a lot of hard work, sacrifice and discipline on the road to being an NBA star
Speaking of new generations, Hugo Gonzalez is a new face for the Celtics. Do you see him as a potential solid NBA player?
He is now a Celtics player. Our management does a good job of identifying and developing talent. I’ve already seen him in the gym and I had seen him play before. He has a lot of work ahead of him. It’s not going to be easy because no one is going to give him anything, he’s going to have to earn it. But I think he will rise to the challenge. He seems like a great guy, he has a great smile. I’m ready to go to the gym and get to work with him as soon as possible.
There was a generational change some time ago, led by players like you, that ensured the level of the NBA. Is there a generation of players behind you that will ensure the same now?
Yes, sir. There are a lot of young talents in our league. I think the NBA will be fine. LeBron, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, as they leave, will leave a big void, but I’m optimistic about the future and I think it will be fantastic. I think it will be very promising. And I think a lot of fans have a lot to look forward to in terms of talent in the NBA, it’s very good.
Injuries can make you doubt your ability. It’s a mental challenge
Do you have any idea what it might mean for the NBA to land in Europe in a year’s time? Do you have a favorite European team?
In soccer I like Barcelona, also Arsenal. In basketball, I try to keep up with the Euroleague, teams from Greece or Turkey are doing well. And there are very good teams in Spain like Malaga or Madrid with Real, for which some friends have played. I try to follow basketball in Europe as much as I can.
And about what the NBA can do in Europe?I’m not sure, my friend, I’m not sure (in Spanish). I don’t know, we’ll see. I think there are plans to develop and potentially bring games here. I’ve heard other things. On the other hand, outside of the NBA, there is also talk of starting to play in Europe. But as far as the NBA’s plans are concerned, I haven’t heard much about them. As vice president of the players’ association we often talk about basketball, how the game is going, etc., and there have been some conversations about Europe. But I guess we’ll have to wait and see a little bit more.
And we say goodbye to him: “Gracias, mi amigo,” he says. A unique player.
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