Jaylen Brown’s “Genius” Move Could Spell Trouble for Nike, Warns Celtics Legend After the MVP’s “Boredom” Confession

Sep 27, 2024 | 8:42 PM EDT

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Is Jaylen Brown the game-changer Nike never saw coming? What do you think?

After ending his three-year sneaker-free partnership with Nike, Jaylen Brown has officially stepped into the competition with his new sportswear brand, 741, which he unveiled just days ago. Coming off a championship season where he won Finals MVP, many might wonder why Jaylen felt the need for this move. But he has a reason for it.

According to Jaylen Brown, it was boredom that led him to start this business venture. “Honestly, boredom. It would be great for it to be successful. But even if it’s not, who cares?” Brown said. What sets him apart is that he doesn’t feel the pressure to ensure the company’s success, thanks to his star status. This gives him the freedom to explore without fear of failure.

Brown also sees this as an opportunity to inspire others, especially athletes, to build something of their own. “I’m just kind of tired of seeing the same old things. The deals constructed the same way. So hopefully, in the next 20 years, even if this isn’t super successful, it sparks other athletes and creators to have the courage to start building their own stuff,” he added.

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NBA legends Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce discussed Jaylen Brown’s new company on their ‘Ticket & The Truth | KG CERTIFIED’ podcast, praising his groundbreaking move. “I think it’s genius. No one has attempted to even try what he’s doing, you know,” KG said. While many have launched shoe companies, no one on Brown’s level has taken that leap. For top-tier players like Brown, time and the lack of financial need often keep them from such ventures.

“This could open the door for players of that caliber and not be afraid, you know, cause these other shoe companies be throwing so much money at the superstars that, now you just control your own,” Pierce said. Like Brown, who aims to inspire other athletes to follow suit, KG and Pierce believe this move could open doors for more athletes to take control of their brands and future. However, this isn’t the only reason Garnett thinks the move is ‘genius.’

“Nike’s not the brand like it’s used to be“-KG issues a warning to other top brands with Brown’s new company

Kevin Garnett mentioned that while the Ball brothers (who created the Big Baller Brand) made a significant impact, they weren’t on the same level as Jaylen Brown in terms of status when launching a brand. He gives respect to the Ball brothers but emphasizes that Brown, an All-Star and NBA champion at the peak of his career, is doing something unprecedented.

Garnett points out that the sneaker industry is shifting, using Skechers as an example of a brand that was once laughed at but is now a major player. He highlights that big brands like Nike aren’t as dominant as they used to be, with competitors like Adidas, Puma, and several Chinese brands like Anta and Li-Ning rising in prominence.

“Nike’s not the brand like it’s used to be. You see Adidas making the apex. You see Puma into the conversation. China got like three or four brands that’s over there, Anta, Li-Ning…I am saying, it’s just growing, so he is throwing it in there,” Brown said. Garnett is pointing out that the sneaker landscape is shifting, and Jaylen Brown is stepping in at the perfect moment, ready to capitalize on this change. With Brown launching his own sports brand at such a crucial time, it could spell trouble for Nike, especially given their recent struggles during the Olympics and now facing competition from Brown’s new venture. What are your thoughts on this?

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