Brandon Clarke Dies Aged 29

By Eppe Franklyne

The Memphis Grizzlies have announced the death of forward Brandon Clarke at the age of 29. The NBA club confirmed the heartbreaking news on Tuesday, although officials did not immediately reveal the cause of death.

In a statement, the Grizzlies said: “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of ⁠Brandon Clarke. Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better ‌person whose impact on the organisation and the greater Memphis community will ‌not be forgotten.”

The late Brandon Clarke, who was born in Vancouver, Canada, began his NBA journey after the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 21st pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He was later traded to Memphis on draft night and spent his entire professional career with the Memphis Grizzlies.

During his rookie season, Brandon Clarke impressed basketball fans with strong performances and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honours in 2020. He averaged 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in his debut campaign, quickly becoming an important player for the team.

Injuries affected the talented forward in recent years. Knee and calf problems restricted him to only two appearances during the 2025-26 NBA season.

Before joining the NBA, Clarke played college basketball at San Jose State and later starred for Gonzaga during the 2018-19 season, where he gained national attention for his performances.

Last month, authorities in Arkansas arrested Clarke on charges linked to possession and trafficking of a controlled substance, alongside traffic-related offences.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver described the league as “devastated” by the player’s death and praised him as “a beloved teammate and leader who ⁠played the game with enormous passion and grit”.

How will basketball fans remember Brandon Clarke’s impact on the NBA?