Wednesday, May 13, 2026 - Clarke's de@th was announced on Tuesday, May 12, by his team, the Memphis Grizzlies, and his agency, Priority Sports. A cause of de@th was not announced.
The Grizzlies said in a statement that they "are
heartbroken by the tragic loss" of 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," the team said.
Priority Sports said in a statement that it is "just
impossible to put into words how much he'll be missed."
Clarke was drafted in the first round by the Oklahoma City
Thunder in 2019 and was traded two weeks later to Memphis, where he played his
entire seven-year career.
"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," the NBA said in a statement. "Our
thoughts and sympathies are with Brandon's family, friends, and the Grizzlies
organization."
Clarke emerged as a key contributor as a Grizzlies rookie
during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, averaging 12.1 points and 5.9
rebounds in 58 games while making the NBA's All-Rookie Team and finishing
fourth in Rookie of the Year voting.
Clarke served primarily as a valuable bench player early in
his career and signed a four-year, $52 million extension with the Grizzlies in
October 2022. He suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in March 2023
and appeared in only six games the following season.
After playing in 64 games in 2024-25, Clarke appeared in
just two games this season because of calf and knee injuries.
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