In a stunning turn involving a young man who was widely regarded as a promising player who was expected to have a glorious comeback season, but ended up being one entirely derailed by injuries, NBA star and Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died at the age of 29. His cause of death has not yet been released.
Such is what the Memphis Grizzlies released in a statement posted to X in the mid-afternoon on Tuesday, May 12, revealing that Mr. Clarke passed away recently, though it did not say exactly when he passed away nor the cause of his death, nor whether it was at all related to the injuries he suffered earlier in the season.
In the statement, the team, for which Clarke played seven seasons, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, said that it is heartbroken by his passing and that his hugely positive impact on the team and its community. Beginning, the statement said, “We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke.”
The statement continued, “Brandon 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.”
A few more details were added by TMZ, the entertainment outlet. It revealed in an article on his passing that he had died on Monday night while staying in the city of Los Angeles with one of his friends from his college days, and that he seemed to be in good spirits and enjoying himself in the offseason. Further, TMZ added that the barber who cut his hair on Friday thought he appeared to be in good, content spirits. TMZ did not, however, report on a cause of death.
TMZ also noted that the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, released a statement in which he said, “We 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.” He added, “Our thoughts and sympathies are with Brandon’s family, friends and the Grizzlies organization.”
Commenting as well was former NBA player Danny Green, who briefly played alongside Clarke during the 2022-23 season. Green, a former NBA guard, spoke to ESPN’s NBA Today about Clarke’s passing, remembering his former teammate fondly and commenting positively on his character and energy.
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He said, “He was a high-energy guy. He always brought it, the positivity, the vibes. He did his own music. He was artistic, he was into fashion … He was such a great kid and had a lot of energy. He will be dearly missed, and he was very much loved in that community.”
Clarke spent all seven seasons of his time in the NBA playing for the Memphis Grizzlies. He was the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, and was actually drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder, but then got traded to the Grizzlies on the night of the draft.
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Featured image credit: By Mogami Kariya – https://www.flickr.com/photos/kariyamogami/50641519957/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=97083982