Jaylen Brown says he and Patriots WR A.J. Brown are cousins

Jaylen Brown and AJ Brown are stars in their sports. Both players won the tournament. They are both 29 years old. One is leaving Boston for Philadelphia, and the other came to Boston from Philadelphia earlier this summer.

And they appear to be linked, former Celtic Jaylen Brown told reporters during an appearance on the 7uice Foundation’s Summer Bridge program at MIT.

“The crazy thing is, we’re cousins,” Brown said in an interview. The video was posted by NBC Sports Boston. “I didn’t know that. My grandfather just told me. I think we’re cousins. I don’t think he knows that either. His grandparents are my grandfather’s brothers.”

Jaylen, who turns 30 in October, is older than AJ, who turned 29 last month.

They both have southern roots. Jaylen grew up in Marietta, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. AJ grew up in Starkville, Mississippi, home of Mississippi State University.

AJ chose to play college football at MSU’s rival, Ole Miss, where he was a freshman during Brown’s rookie season with the Celtics in the fall of 2016.

Both players would win titles in 2024. AJ had three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl LIX in February of that year, helping the Eagles beat the Chiefs 40-22.

Jaylen was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after the Celtics beat the Mavericks in June. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists during the five-game series.

The Celtics traded Jaylen to the 76ers last Monday in exchange for Paul George, a pair of first-round picks, and a pair of second-round picks. The Eagles traded AJ to the Patriots last month for a first-round pick and a fifth-round pick.

The Eagles will come to Foxborough for joint practices with the Patriots on August 19 and 20 before they play a preseason game against each other in August 2022. The Eagles are not on the Patriots’ regular season schedule.

The Celtics and 76ers are in the same division, and have met more times in the playoffs than any other duo in NBA history. They have also met in the preseason in two of the past three years. This year’s Celtics preseason schedule has not yet been released.

Fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, the Patriots have added AJ to one of the NFL’s most potent passing attacks. The Patriots lead the league in completion percentage (71.9) and yards per pass attempt (8.8). They ranked fourth in passing yards per game (250.4) and tied for sixth in passing touchdowns (31).

The Celtics, who blew a 3-1 playoff series for the first time in franchise history against the 76ers in the postseason last year, reshaped their roster this offseason, bringing in George, center Mitchell Robinson and point guard Mike Conley.

The 76ers added Jaylen to a roster that includes all-stars Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, along with a first-team All-Rookie selection in J. Edgecomb.

Both Brown Cousins ​​are aiming for a second championship. One will try to bring another Super Bowl to the Patriots. The Celtics will likely have to get through another stretch if they want to make it out of the East in the playoffs.

Khari A. Thompson

Sports reporter

Khary Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khary covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.