Brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright are credited with inventing the airplane.

More recently, brothers Bradford and Jordan Burgess have helped lift Virginia Commonwealth University basketball to exciting new heights.

With Bradford wearing black and gold from 2008 to 2012, the Rams averaged 27 victories a season and soared to the 2011 NCAA Final Four.

With a well-known, game-night affection for Juicy Fruit chewing gum, Bradford scored 1,684 points during his college career. He is the Rams’ fourth all-time scorer.

He also logged a school record 4,572 minutes of playing time and was part of a record 108 Rams victories.

Known as “Big Shot Brad,” Burgess’ No. 20 was retired and is one of just five jerseys dangling from the Siegel Center rafters.

For the time being, however, No. 20 has been given to Bradford’s kid brother, Jordan, a 6-foot-5, defensive-minded senior on the current team. The Rams carried a 9-3 record and a three-game winning streak into winter break.

While Jordan isn’t nearly the prolific scorer his brother was, team success has been similar. The Rams were 26-9, 26-10 and 25-11 during Jordan’s first three seasons. VCU won its first-ever Atlantic 10 Tournament title in 2015.

Still with 19 games left on the current regular season schedule, VCU has won 86 games since Jordan Burgess became eligible to play.

There’s a chance to tack on more victories in the Atlantic 10 Tournament in Pittsburgh. Plus the Rams are looking good for a seventh straight NCAA appearance.

The Burgess brothers, products of Benedictine College Prep, have sparkled under three VCU coaches.

Bradford, who now is playing professionally in Hungary, was signed by former Coach Anthony Grant. He was a freshman starter under Coach Grant, then had three seasons under former Coach Shaka Smart.

Jordan, who was actually more highly regarded in high school by various scouting services, was signed by Coach Smart. He played two seasons under Coach Smart before Coach Will Wade arrived last season.

There was a one-season gap in VCU’s House of Burgesses.

There was no Burgess in uniform during the 2012-13 season as Jordan took an academic redshirt as a true freshman and watched from the sidelines.

No Ram is more determined at the defensive end than Jordan, who is capable of guarding an opponent of just about any size.

While defense doesn’t always show up on the statistics, his gritty efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

The younger Burgess averages 25.3 minutes per game, third behind JeQuan Lewis and Mo Alie-Cox. Jordan also is contributing averages of 6.3 points and 4.7 rebounds — second on the team to Justin Tillman.

The brothers’ father, Keith Burgess, was a football and basketball standout at Martinsville High School. Their parents are Hampton University alumni.

Keith is on the short list of athletes who played for a state championship football and basketball team in the same school year. He was a key member of Martinsville High’s 1975 Group AA football title and its 1976 basketball crown.

Keith Burgess also played football at Hampton University in 1982 after transferring from West Virginia University.

Myla Burgess is the principal at Jacobs Road Elementary School in Chesterfield County.

There will be no Burgess on the court next season for the Rams, but fans aren’t likely to forget the brotherly combination. From the Siegel Center rafters, No. 20 will forever be the reminder.