Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown delivered one of the most revealing moments of his offseason during an appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show, opening up about how late NBA icon Kobe Bryant continues to shape the vision he has for life beyond basketball.
The conversation came while Brown was discussing his growing brand and company, 741.
Jennifer Hudson asked Brown, “Talk to me about your brand, 741.”
Brown immediately pointed to Bryant as one of the biggest inspirations behind it.
“I was inspired by LA’s Kobe Bryant,” Brown said. “He inspired just not only to play basketball, but his thoughts and stuff off the court also inspired me before he passed away.”
But Brown’s comments quickly went deeper than basketball itself.
The Celtics star explained that Bryant’s approach to ownership, athlete empowerment, and long-term business opportunities left a major impact on him as he started thinking about his own future beyond the NBA.
“He was exploring starting his own brand and giving athletes better percentages and better deals, and using his platform for the future of what the next generation could possibly look at,” Brown explained.
Then came the line that immediately started circulating online among NBA fans.
“So I look at it like me just trying to pick up where he left off.”
For many fans, the moment offered a rare glimpse into how seriously Brown views his influence beyond the court.
Brown Has Quietly Built One of the NBA’s Most Ambitious Off-Court Profiles
While Brown has already established himself as one of the league’s premier two-way players, he has also steadily become one of the NBA’s most ambitious voices in business, technology, education, and athlete ownership.
That broader vision has increasingly become tied to 741, the company and creative platform Brown has continued expanding in recent years.
Brown has frequently spoken about wanting athletes to think differently about ownership, equity, and long-term wealth creation instead of relying entirely on traditional endorsement structures. His comments on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” may have been his clearest explanation yet of where that mindset originated.
Bryant’s post-playing career became a blueprint for many younger NBA stars before his death in 2020. Beyond basketball, Bryant built a reputation as an investor, storyteller, producer, and entrepreneur who pushed athletes to think bigger about their long-term impact.
Brown made it clear that influence still resonates with him today.
Brown Continues Expanding His Influence Beyond Basketball
Brown’s appearance on the daytime talk show comes after another high-profile season with the Celtics, where he remained one of the franchise’s emotional and competitive leaders.
But increasingly, Brown’s profile extends far beyond what happens on the court.
Whether discussing education initiatives, business ventures, technology, or athlete empowerment, Brown has consistently positioned himself as one of the NBA’s most thoughtful and future-focused stars.
And based on his latest comments, Bryant’s legacy remains central to that mission.
Jaylen Brown Says He’s Trying to Continue What Kobe Bryant Started