The Memphis Grizzlies are mourning one of their own after the organization confirmed Tuesday that forward Brandon Clarke has died at the age of 29, sending shockwaves through the professional basketball world.
Clarke’s body was discovered Monday afternoon inside a San Fernando Valley residence in Los Angeles, leaving investigators with troubling evidence at the scene.
The Los Angeles Fire Department rushed to the location after a 911 call reporting a medical emergency came in shortly after 5 p.m. Paramedics arrived and pronounced Clarke dead.
LAPD sources told ABC News the death appeared to stem from a possible drug overdose, with narcotics recovered at the scene and no indication of foul play.
Drug paraphernalia was also found inside the home. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances, and an autopsy has been ordered to establish both the cause and manner of death, according to NBC4 Los Angeles.
The Grizzlies took to social media Tuesday to break the devastating news to fans, stopping short of addressing the details surrounding his passing.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the team wrote. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the great Memphis community will not be forgotten.”
The organization closed its statement by offering condolences to Clarke’s family during what it called a tragic loss.
Priority Sports, Clarke’s representation, did not hold back in expressing the depth of their grief. “We are all beyond devastated by the passing of Brandon Clarke,” the agency wrote. “He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family.”
The agency continued: “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.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver added his voice to the chorus of mourning.
“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,” Silver stated, directing his sympathies toward Clarke’s family, friends, and the Grizzlies organization.
The National Basketball Players Association released a statement of its own: “This is an incredible loss for the brotherhood. We will remember Brandon not only for the immense joy he brought to so many throughout his career, but for the genuine friendships he built far beyond basketball.”
Clarke’s story began in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he was born before his family relocated to Phoenix. There, he attended Desert Vista High School and guided his squad all the way to the Arizona Division I championship game in 2015.
His college path took him first to San Jose State for two seasons before a transfer to Gonzaga, where he declared for the 2019 NBA Draft.
His one season with the Bulldogs proved historic — he averaged 16.9 points, powered Gonzaga to the NCAA tournament regional final, earned a Wooden All-America selection, and became the first player in West Coast Conference history to claim both Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors in the same season.
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Clarke in the first round of the 2019 draft, but within two weeks he was dealt to Memphis, where he would spend every remaining season of his professional career.
He made an immediate impact, posting 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during his rookie year and earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
He went on to become a cornerstone of the 2021-22 Grizzlies squad that captured 56 wins.
Injuries began to take their toll on Clarke in the later years of his career. A torn Achilles tendon in March 2023 restricted him to just six games the following season.
His final appearance in a Grizzlies uniform came in December, after which the team announced in March that he would not return for the remainder of the season due to ongoing rehabilitation.
Weeks before his death, on April 1, Clarke was arrested in Arkansas on charges that included speeding and possession of a controlled substance identified as kratom, an herbal supplement that is set to become illegal in Tennessee on July 1. He was released on bond.
Over the course of his seven-year career with Memphis, Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds across 309 games.
Gonzaga head coach Mark Few issued a personal tribute to his former player.
“He had such a kind, gentle and warm soul, and I will always remember the great smile he had on his face whenever you were around him,” Few said. “BC was one of the most easygoing players we have ever had, and he was part of one of the greatest teams in our program’s history.”
No funeral arrangements have been made public at this time.
