JAYLEN BROWN & 741 HINT AT THE FUTURE WITH 3D PRINTED PERFORMANCE SHOE AT TONIGHTS LAKERS VS CELTICS GAME

Jaylen Brown gives first look at the 741 3D printed prototype V1 developed by Zellerfeld, beginning a new athlete-led design and engineering journey

During tonight’s Celtics vs. Lakers game, NBA Champion Jaylen Brown was spotted entering the tunnel carrying an early exploratory prototype of what could become a major advancement in athlete-led performance design: a first-phase 3D printed concept for his independent brand 741, developed through rapid iteration using Zellerfeld.

While not a finished shoe or commercially positioned product, the prototype hints at the beginning of a multi-stage research and development initiative led by 741 using 3D printed construction as a tool to rethink how footwear evolves with the athlete.

Brown, who founded 741 to retain full authorship and creative control over every product attached to his name, has long been outspoken about the need for innovation that evolves with the modern athlete. The numbers 7, 4, and 1 represent awakening, discipline, and new beginnings – a thematic foundation that guides the brand’s deliberate, experimental approach. Tonight’s moment marked the first public signal that 741 is now exploring how 3D printed structures adapt more precisely to an athlete’s movement and biomechanics.

The prototype, internally referred to as V1, represents the earliest stage of an intensive performance-engineering program led by 741. It is not presented as a completed shoe; rather, it serves as the starting point for ongoing iteration, testing, and refinement. Each version will evolve in real time as Brown and the 741 design team evaluate stability, structure, traction, responsiveness, and force-mapping possibilities.

“Performance footwear hasn’t evolved fast enough for the way athletes move today,” Brown said. “What we’re exploring with 3D printing isn’t about presenting a final product; it’s about understanding what becomes possible when design can adapt directly to the athlete.”

Creative development is led by Geoff Deas and Sean O’Shea, veteran designers with influential work at Off-White, Nike, Adidas, Puma, and Anta. After helping guide Kyrie Irving’s landmark transition to Anta, the duo now bring two decades of performance design expertise to 741’s exploration of next-generation manufacturing and athlete-centered engineering.

741 CEO Que Gaskins, a 30-year industry pioneer known for shaping cultural moments with Allen Iverson, RBK (Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Pharrell), and Dwyane Wade’s partnership with Li-Ning, underscored the significance of the project. “With 3D printing, we want to push the boundaries of innovation at 741 and excel at the intersections of tech, performance, and culture,” Gaskins said. “What we’re developing with Jaylen and our design team represents a new frontier, one where athletes participate directly in the engineering process.”

That frontier exists because traditional performance footwear is built on slow development cycles and standardized midsoles, fits and traction patterns, while 3D printing breaks that model in ways that directly impact performance:

Design iterations evolve in days, not years
Every athlete can receive a true biomechanical fit
Structural elements can be tuned to individual movement patterns
Traction, support and responsiveness can vary player to player and version to version

Imagine performance footwear where each athlete receives structures tuned to their movement profile, and younger athletes grow into designs engineered to their biology rather than mass averages, a direction 741 is now actively exploring.

As testing and development continue, additional prototypes will follow. The V1 seen tonight signals the start of 741’s exploration into performance footwear enabled by 3D printing and Zellerfeld’s platform. Further updates will come as engineering and creative work evolve.