Boston Celtics champion and NBA MVP Jaylen Brown is experimenting with 3D printed performance footwear. Before the Celtics’ December 5 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers at TD Garden, Brown walked into the arena carrying an early 3D printed prototype from his independent brand 741 Performance, developed in collaboration with German footwear-printing company Zellerfeld. Brown had the prototype in his right hand, while his left held the 741 sneakers he planned to wear for the game.
The shoe is part of a multi-stage R&D project, not a finished product, and early reports say it is an evolving concept meant for testing, iteration, and experimentation. The move by Brown did get a lot of attention on social media, especially when it comes to the future of basketball shoes and what it might look like. Several sports outlets have reported on the prototype, including Sports Illustrated (SI), which covered the moment Brown walked into the tunnel at TD Garden holding the shoe, now known as “741 V1.”
“Performance footwear hasn’t evolved fast enough for the way athletes move today,” Brown said, according to SI. “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.”
The prototype Brown is holding in the photo looks more like a sculpted piece of tech than a typical sneaker, really. Considering that Brown isn’t just promoting the shoes, and he is directly involved in the direction of 741, this prototype seems to point to exactly what he wants the brand to be: experimental and not rushed to retail.
What Is 741 Performance and Why It Matters to This Prototype Shoe
Brown turned down over $50 million in endorsement deals from major sneaker companies to launch 741 Performance as a platform to push the boundaries of sports, creativity, design, and social impact. The name “741” is tied to his personal philosophy. In fact, Brown has described: “741 is more than a sneaker brand — it’s a statement about independence, creativity, and ownership.” He built it to reflect his own vision and give athletes more control over their work and their legacy, instead of fitting into the traditional endorsement model, he explained during the brand’s launch last year.
So, clearly, 741 isn’t a typical athlete merch line; it’s built around experimentation, future-leaning technology, and collaborations that challenge what sports gear can be — the kind of innovation 3D printing is known for.
Basketball sneakers. Image courtesy of 741 Performance via Instagram.
741 first gained attention with the launch of its debut sneaker, the Rover, a minimalist slip-on designed around comfort, sustainability, and Brown’s emphasis on independent design. Footwear has been part of the brand’s identity from the beginning, but this new 3D printed prototype is its most experimental shoe yet. And the fact that Brown chose Zellerfeld for this debut says a lot about the direction he wants to take.
Jaylen Brown wears 741 basketball shoes during the game against the LA Lakers. Image courtesy of 741 Performance via Instagram.
Why Zellerfeld Is a Big Deal in 3D Printed Footwear
If there’s one company behind the surge of 3D printed shoes in the last few years, it’s Zellerfeld. They’ve built a platform that lets designers create fully printed, one-material, recyclable, made-to-order shoes, which means no glue, no stitching, no foam, no multi-part assembly. Everything is printed as a single structure.
They’ve collaborated with everyone from fashion designers to celebrities, producing some of the most “recognizable printed shoes” in pop culture, like Heron Preston’s HERON01, Sean Wotherspoon‘s 3D printed designs, and even pairs designed and released just days ago by Justin Bieber and 2 Chainz. But what makes them stand out isn’t all the hype; it’s that their tech can scale. Zellerfeld’s system allows rapid iterations, personalization, and sustainability that traditional footwear factories simply can’t replicate.
Sean Wotherspoon with his mules. Image courtesy of Zellerfeld.
For an athlete like Brown, that matters. Instead of waiting months for samples or being limited by molds and materials, a printed shoe can be changed overnight, tested, and printed again until it meets the performance that the athlete needs. We could call it one of the most interesting playgrounds for innovation in 2025.
What’s Special About Jaylen Brown’s New Prototype?
Right now, we know very little about 741’s prototype, but it seems like it’s a fully 3D printed structure, likely using Zellerfeld’s signature flexible polymer. The design is intentionally experimental, focusing on geometry, cushioning patterns, and motion flexibility. It certainly represents a huge shift; it’s an NBA star exploring whether 3D printed shoes could work in real games. And once again, it points to how 741 isn’t just a lifestyle brand, but wants to push into technology-driven athletic products, which is still a niche but a rapidly growing one. A niche that is becoming one of the most influential corners of the sports-tech world.
Jaylen Brown at a Boston Celtics game. Image courtesy of 741 Performance via Instagram.
Brown has always been very open about creativity, tech, and thinking beyond the traditional paths available to athletes. By stepping into 3D printing with 741 and Zellerfeld, he’s joining a growing wave of designers and athletes who see additive manufacturing as the next big frontier. Of course, this prototype is early, experimental, but it’s exactly the kind of move that pushes industries forward.