Jaylen Brown and Nike have been at odds over the past few years. As the reigning Finals MVP, he also sits as probably the most high-profile sneaker-free agent currently. The rift with the Swoosh began when he originally voiced out against the brand for discontinuing their contract with his former teammate Kyrie Irving. Since then, he has painted over the infamous logo and even used KAI’s Anta sneakers. But fans have been most excited about a mysterious shoe he has been recently wearing.

First spotted at the 2024 All-Star game, it seems Brown has been working throughout the summer on his own line of sneakers. At the Celtics media day, he spoke excitedly about the creation. Having also tested them out at the NBPA Sanctuary, new and updated models of the sneaker have often appeared on his social media. Brown told the reporters he would be wearing them “all season”. However, he might also be planning to dive into further details about the controversy that took place with Nike over the summer.

“I’m excited to share with you guys the journey and the process that I’ve been on, all the ups and downs, everything that’s happened behind closed doors. I’m sharing the whole experience that kinda goes on in the sneaker market and sneaker companies from grassroots up,” he said during the Celtics media day.

The 2024 Finals MVP publicly blamed Nike for his omission from the Paris Olympics. The Swoosh being the main sponsors for Team USA, Brown seems to believe they denied him a momentous opportunity. Reporters didn’t waste any time either, with the first question being about his feelings about not being part of the star-studded roster. Brown had a hilarious reaction, asking for some “warm up” before diving into the juicy questions. Grant Hill though did deny their role, stating purely basketball reasons to pick his Celtics teammate Derrick White for the competition.

With that being said, there might be some scoop that Brown has been holding on to which he could soon reveal.

Who is behind the Jaylen Brown sneaker?

When it comes to concealing a secret, Brown has done a fantastic job. All that’s known about his newest creation is a black, futuristic design. There have been several speculations though. Some have wondered if ANTA could be the makers behind the sneaker. Notably, since Brown wore Irving’s sneakers, there was always a possibility.

Furthermore, the brand has a large presence within the NBA. Before Irving, Klay Thompson was their prominent athlete. Since then even Kevon Looney, Gordon Hayward, and Donte DiVincenzo have launched their own iterations of a signature shoe with the Chinese brand. But are they behind Brown’s sneakers too?

So far, it doesn’t seem to be. Another speculation links him with Baraq Co, a Korean shoe manufacturer. Recently, Brown took a visit to Seoul, where the brand’s headquarters lie. His main intention was to visit K-Pop icon G-Dragon’s art show alongside Pharrell Williams. Yet, there have been whispers of his connection with the brand.

One thing that does seem evident is that none of the heavyweight brands such as Adidas or New Balance could be tied with Jaylen Brown. Maybe fans will have to wait until the season starts to know exactly who the Finals MVP has been working with.