In a move against the grain in the world of NBA endorsements, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has chosen to decline multimillion-dollar sponsorship offers to establish his own brand.

Brown launched 741, a new line of athletic wear and shoes that he hopes will redefine how athletes connect with apparel brands.

In an exclusive interview with Entrepreneur, Brown admitted that he drew the inspiration from the late Kobe Bryant for his decision to start his own brand.

"Honestly, I got the idea from Kobe [Bryant], rest in peace," Brown shared. "Before he passed away, he was planning to launch his own shoe brand, sign athletes, and give them better deals and percentages. I remember reading an article about that, and I thought it was dope."

Brown, who reportedly turned down over $50 million in potential deals, explained that while offers from various brands came his way, none truly aligned with his long-term vision.

"I was looking for the brand of the future, not the brand of the past," he added.

Following Bryant's philosophy of athlete empowerment, Brown decided to forge his own path by creating 741.

Bryant's idea resonated deeply with Brown, who admired the Los Angeles Lakers icon's goal of transforming athlete endorsements.

Brown has been closely involved in every aspect of his new brand. He revealed that he even traveled to a South Korean factory to oversee production details and to ensure that the products meet his personal standards.

In addition to 741, Brown also remains dedicated to community initiatives through his 7uice Foundation, which supports underserved youth with resources and opportunities.

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