As the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves get ready for Game 5 tonight in the Frost Bank Center, the Association mourns the tragic passing of a fellow NBA player.
On Tuesday, May 12, it was announced that Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died. He was 29 years old.
Injuries this season limited Clarke to only two games this campaign for the Grizzlies before the team ultimately ruled him out for the rest of the year.
“I’m aware of the report, but don’t have any comments,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said at the time of the incident.
Clarke had just finished his seventh NBA season, all of which he spent with the Grizzlies. He missed 73 games after originally sitting out 26 due to knee surgery recovery. The last 46 games he missed were due to a calf strain.
The Grizzlies announced on March 24 that Clarke was continuing his rehabilitation, but recent tests showed he needed more healing before being cleared for “high-intensity court work.” The team said Clarke is out for the remainder of this season and expected back for next season.
Clarke was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga before earning all-rookie honors that season while averaging a career-high 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension with Memphis in 2022.