The Boston Celtics‘ Jaylen Brown is not just a basketball player. No, Brown has loftier ambitions; he wants to help others.  Now, you may be wondering where he gets this altruistic mindset from. Well, look no further than the woman who raised him for the answer to that question. And spoiler alert, this nature of his gives him common ground with an NBA legend.

Jaylen recently joined the “MILLION DOLLAZ WORTH OF GAME” podcast. During his appearance on the podcast, he talked about how women, especially black women, often get overlooked by society despite their hard work. He recognizes that there are a lot of people in this world who deserve to be uplifted, but there are not enough people doing said uplifting. Brown revealed he saw this firsthand as he watched his mom struggle to raise him and his brother.

“My mom is like that. She raised us how to be young men on top of working two jobs and doing whatever it took to make ends meet. But now she runs my foundation, which is a business…And she did a good job instilling values and truth. And that’s why I walk with my chest out. Because of my mother,” revealed Brown.

However observing his mother’s struggles only went further in solidifying the values she sought to instill in her sons. Moreover, there was another person in Jaylen Brown’s life who helped him see the truth. It was his grandmother. Jaylen revealed how she dedicated her life to helping others. “My grandmother was a community worker up in the Grand Rapids, Michigan…And she worked in the community, was a social worker. So she would just touch so many different families’ lives…When she passed away, you should have seen the people was coming from Ohio, all type, all over. Just all over the US just to show respect for one woman, for one lady.”

You’re probably seeing now what drives Jaylen Brown so much to give back to his community. It’s simply his attempt at living up to the examples set by these great women in his life. These attempts have led to Brown forming an unwitting connection with one of the biggest stars in basketball, Stephen Curry.

Jaylen Brown and Stephen Curry’s unique philanthropic connection

On paper, Jaylen Brown and Stephen Curry seemingly have very little in common. They’re both incredible at basketball, yes. But that’s pretty much it, right? Wrong! There’s a connection between them that goes beyond basketball. It will all make sense once we tell you about Brown’s efforts to give back to the community.

After Jaylen Brown revealed that he wasn’t content simply being a basketball player or an entertainer, he elaborated on his efforts to give back.  “Like, I’ve been like this from day one. You can go back and do the research, but you know, just trying to be an additive to my community here in Boston, in the Bay Area, in Oakland. And in Atlanta, where I grew up, and in other communities as well,” said Jaylen.

Now you may have already made the connection after reading that. But, you know who else has set up programs because they want to give back to the communities in Oakland and the Bay Area? Well, it’s the Warriors legend, Stephen Curry, of course! Despite being born in Akron, Ohio, Curry spent a major chunk of his life in the Bay Area playing for the Dubs. So naturally, he wants to give back to the community that made him a superstar. And that’s also exactly what Jaylen Brown wants to do.

Curry does his part for the community through the “Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation” that he and his wife Ayesha run. Whereas, Jaylen Brown has the “7uice Foundation” run by his mom. Who knew that their altruism and philanthropy would connect these stars in such a way? Nevertheless, this just shows that no matter who you are, you’re never above making other people’s lives a little better!