Brad Stevens has a direct connection to M. Night Shyamalan

“In many ways, a director and a coach are very similar,’’ says M. Night Shyamalan, who made “The Sixth Sense’’ and “Unbreakable.’’As a Philadelphia 76ers superfan, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan regularly watches games at the Wells Fargo Center from his courtside seat near the visiting team’s bench.

Shyamalan, known for directing critically acclaimed thrillers such as “The Sixth Sense’’ (1999) and “Unbreakable’’ (2000), often will mingle with other celebrities in attendance, from Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz to actor Kevin Hart. He’ll also occasionally chat with opposing coaches and players, among them Celtics coach Brad Stevens.

“I don’t know who said what to who first,’’ Shyamalan…