Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died, according to an announcement from his agency, Priority Sports (Twitter link).
Clarke, who has spent the past seven seasons in Memphis after being selected with the 21st pick in the 2019 draft, was 29 years old.
“We are all beyond devastated by the passing of Brandon Clarke,” his agency’s statement reads. “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. Our hearts are so broken as we think about his mom, Whitney, his entire family, and all of his friends and teammates. From high school to San Jose State to Gonzaga to the Grizzlies, Brandon impacted everyone who was part of his life.
“Everyone loved BC because he was always there as the most supportive friend you could ever imagine. He was so unique in the joy he brought to all of those in his life. It’s just impossible to put into words how much he’ll be missed. We love you, BC.”
A Canadian power forward who played his college ball at San Jose State and Gonzaga, Clarke was named the WCC Defensive Player of the Year in his final season with the Zags, then made the All-Rookie first team during his first professional season with the Grizzlies. He immediately emerged as a rotation player in Memphis, averaging 10.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 21.3 minutes per game across 237 contests (29 starts) in his first four years in the NBA.
However, Clarke’s fourth season came to an early end when he suffered a left Achilles tear in March 2023. That injury kept him sidelined for most of the ’23/24 season as well.
Clarke was back in the Grizzlies’ rotation in 2024/25, averaging 18.9 MPG and matching his career high with 64 appearances, but he once again suffered a season-ending injury in March 2025 when he suffered a PCL sprain in his right knee. The 6’8″ forward underwent an arthroscopic procedure last September to address synovitis in that same knee, and while he was able to briefly return to action in December, he played in just two games before sustaining a calf strain that sidelined him for the rest of ’25/26.
In total, Clarke appeared in 309 regular season games and another 12 playoff contests during his time in Memphis.
This story will be updated…