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The sudden passing of 29-year-old Brandon Clarke has stunned the NBA world.
The Memphis Grizzlies forward passed away at his San Fernando Valley home on Monday, officials said.
What they're saying:
"We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke. 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," the team shared in a statement on its official X account on Tuesday.
The backstory:
Clarke was Canadian-American and spent his teen years playing basketball in Arizona. He graduated from Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona before he went onto play for the San Jose State and the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
He was then selected as the No.21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, in a stacked class that included Zion Williamson, Ja Morant, RJ Barrett, Darius Garland, Cameron Johnson and Rui Hachimura.
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