Details have yet to be released on how the Grizzlies player died.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke has died at the age of 29, according to multiple reports.
The team released the following statement.
“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.”
Details have yet to be officially released on how the Grizzlies player died.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement regarding Clarke’s passing.
“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke,” Silver said. “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’s family, friends and the Grizzlies organization.”
He missed most of the 2025-26 NBA season after suffering a right calf injury in December 2025.
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He spent seven seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies after being selected with the No. 21 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He quickly became a fan favorite in Memphis and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2020 after averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds during his rookie season.
Throughout his career with the Grizzlies, Clarke appeared in 309 games and averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
Beyond basketball, Clarke was also known for his involvement in the Memphis community, including donating books and educational resources to local students in 2025.
Clarke was arrested by the Cross County Sheriff’s Department in Arkansas on April 1. He was booked into the Cross County Detention Center just after 1 p.m. local time.
According to Cross County Sheriff’s Office records, Clarke was charged with speeding, possession of a controlled substance, trafficking of a controlled substance, and improper passing.
He was released from jail on April 2.
Clarke’s path to the NBA
Clarke was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, before moving with his family to Phoenix, Arizona. He attended high school in Phoenix before heading to San Jose State to play basketball. During his sophomore year in San Jose, he averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was named All-Mountain West First Team and Mountain West All-Defensive Team before his transfer to Gonzaga.
Clarke redshirted the 2017-2018 season, then played the 2018-2019 season for the Bulldogs.
In his single season playing for Gonzaga, Clarke averaged just over 28 minutes per game and averaged just under 17 points per game.
Clarke set a Gonzaga NCAA Tournament single-game record with 36 points and 15 field goals made during that tournament run. Clarke is also tied with Chet Holmgren for Gonzaga’s single-season all-time blocks lead with 117.
Brandon Clarke was taken in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. A month later, the Memphis Grizzlies traded for Clarke.
He started in the NBA with a bang, winning the MVP of the 2019 NBA Summer League. During his six seasons in the NBA, Clarke played 309 games and averaged over 10 points per game.