Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, the team announced in a statement Tuesday.<\/p>\n
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He was 29. The statement did not say how Clarke died.<\/p>\n
Clarke was acquired by the Grizzlies in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft and spent his entire career with the team. After undergoing knee surgery last fall, he appeared in only two games during the 2025-26 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,\u201d the Grizzlies said in a statement. \u201cBrandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten. We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Clarke was born in Vancouver before his family eventually settled in Phoenix. He went to Desert Vista High School, where he led his team to the Division I state championship game in 2015. <\/p>\n
Clarke spent the first two years of college at San Jose State before he transferred to Gonzaga. He declared for the NBA in 2019, and was originally selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 21st pick, but was traded to Memphis in a draft-day deal.<\/p>\n
A forward-center hybrid, Clarke averaged 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in his first year with the Grizzlies, and was named to the 2019-20 All-Rookie First Team. He largely played off the bench and was a key figure on the 2021-22 Grizzlies team that won 56 games. <\/p>\n
Injuries affected Clarke later in his career.<\/p>\n
He tore his Achilles tendon in March 2023, and he appeared in only six games in the following season. He played 64 games during the 2024-25 season, but only two this season due to knee and calf issues.<\/p>\n
In April, Clarke was arrested in Arkansas on charges that included speeding, possession of a controlled substance and trafficking of a controlled substance. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all beyond devastated by the passing of Brandon Clarke. He was so loved by all of us here, and everyone whose life he touched. He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family,\u201d Clarke\u2019s agency, Priority Sports, said in a statement. \u201cOur hearts are so broken as we think about his mom, Whitney, his entire family, and all of his friends and teammates. <\/p>\n
In a statement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said: \u201cWe are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke. As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Brandon\u2019s family, friends and the Grizzlies organization.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.<\/p>\n
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