Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, one of the most beloved figures in the franchise’s recent history, has passed away at just 29 years old. The basketball world is mourning the loss of a player remembered as much for his character as for his game.
May 12, 2026Memphis / Los Angeles6 min readSports Desk
Some players leave a mark on a franchise that goes far beyond the stat sheet. Brandon Clarke was one of those players. On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Memphis Grizzlies confirmed that Clarke had passed away. He was 29 years old. The announcement sent shockwaves through the NBA community — and left an entire city grieving.
Clarke, a power forward who spent his entire seven-season NBA career with the Grizzlies, was found unresponsive at a home in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles on Monday evening after emergency services responded to a 911 call. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that the cause of death is still pending further investigation.
From Gonzaga to Memphis A Journey Worth Remembering
Brandon Clarke grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and took an unconventional road to the NBA. He started his college career at San Jose State, where he quietly developed into a strong performer before transferring to Gonzaga in 2017. It was there that everything clicked.
In his lone season with the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Clarke was a force of nature — averaging 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and an impressive 3.2 blocks per game. He earned second-team All-American honors and put up a jaw-dropping 36-point performance on 15-of-18 shooting against Baylor in the NCAA Tournament. By the time the draft came around, teams were taking serious notice.
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Clarke with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, then quickly traded his rights to the Memphis Grizzlies. It turned out to be a perfect fit. Clarke arrived in Memphis the same year as Ja Morant and together, they helped lay the foundation for one of the most exciting young teams in the league.
Career Highlights & Statistics
10.2Points per game
5.5Rebounds per game
309Career games played
7NBA seasons
Key Career Highlights
- Selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga University
- Named to the NBA All Rookie Team in 2020 alongside teammate Ja Morant
- Key contributor to the 2021–22 Grizzlies team that won 56 games
- Grizzlies rewarded him with a multi-year contract extension in October 2022
- Averaged 16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds in his breakout Gonzaga season
- Scored a career-high 36 points on 15-of-18 shooting vs. Baylor in the NCAA Tournament
- Spent his entire seven-season NBA career with Memphis a true one-team player
- Averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds across 309 career NBA games
A Grizzlie Through and Through
Clarke was never the loudest name on the roster, but he was always one of the most important. He thrived in his role as a high-energy big man off the bench a reliable defender a smart finisher around the rim, and the kind of player coaches trust in big moments.
The 2021–22 season was his finest as a pro. That Grizzlies squad, powered by Morant and a cast of hungry young players, won 56 games and made a deep playoff run. Clarke was at the heart of it doing the dirty work, protecting the paint, and lifting teammates with his energy and attitude. Memphis fans adored him for it.
In later years, injuries began to slow him down. A torn left Achilles tendon in March 2023 kept him off the court for most of the following season. He returned for 64 games in 2024–25, but this season, knee and calf issues limited him to just two appearances. He was still only 29 and everyone believed he had more chapters to write.
The NBA and Grizzlies Respond
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.Memphis Grizzlies, official statement
We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke. 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. Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner
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. National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)
He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family. Everyone loved BC because he was always there as the most supportive friend you could ever imagine. It’s just impossible to put into words how much he’ll be missed. Priority Sports, Clarke’s agency
What He Meant to Memphis
In a city that takes its basketball personally, Brandon Clarke was family. Memphis Grizzlies fans connected with him not just because of what he did on the court, but because of who he was off it. Teammates spoke of him as the first person to show up when someone needed support. Coaches trusted him. Fans cheered for him with real affection.
He was part of the team’s most exciting era the “Grit and Grind” generation had passed, and Clarke was a bridge to something new. A young, talented, gritty Grizzlies squad with a real shot at greatness. That journey was cut short by injuries, and now, far too soon, by his death.
For NBA news followers around the world, Clarke’s passing is a reminder of how fragile life is regardless of talent, youth, or promise.
A Community in Mourning
Within hours of the announcement, tributes flooded social media from former teammates, college coaches, fans, and fellow NBA players. The basketball 2026 news cycle stopped cold. People who had watched Clarke play, who had cheered every block and every dunk, were simply heartbroken.
His Gonzaga coach Mark Few, who watched Clarke transform from a transfer into an All American, was among those processing the loss. From Vancouver to San Jose State to Gonzaga to Memphis every stop on Clarke’s journey produced people who loved him.
The Grizzlies organization, the city of Memphis, and the broader NBA family are all united in grief today. And in that grief, there is also gratitude for every game, every moment, every memory he gave them.
His Legacy in the Game
Brandon Clarke leaves behind a legacy that is about more than numbers. Yes, the 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game over 309 career games tell part of the story. So does the All-Rookie selection, the 56-win season, and the contract extension that showed just how much Memphis believed in him.
But the real legacy is simpler than that. He was a good teammate. A hard worker. A player who gave everything he had, even when injuries made that harder and harder. A person who by every account from those who knew him made the people around him better and happier just by being there.
That is not a small thing. In fact, in a league full of talent and ambition, it is a rare and beautiful thing.
Conclusion: A Life Well Lived, A Loss Deeply Felt
Brandon Clarke was 29 years old. He had barely gotten started. There were more seasons ahead, more moments to be made, more people whose lives he would have touched. That those things will never happen is a tragedy — plain and simple.
What remains is a body of work that any player would be proud of, and a reputation as a human being that most people spend a lifetime trying to earn. The Memphis Grizzlies forward, the NBA All-Rookie, the Gonzaga star, the Vancouver kid who made it — he was all of those things.
But to the people who knew him best, he was simply Brandon. And the world is quieter without him.
“From high school to San Jose State to Gonzaga to the Grizzlies, Brandon impacted everyone who was part of his life.”Brandon Clarke · 1996 – 2026 · Rest in Peace
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, one of the most beloved figures in the franchise’s recent history, has passed away at just 29 years old. The basketball world is mourning the loss of a player remembered as much for his character as for his game.
May 12, 2026Memphis / Los Angeles6 min readSports Desk
Some players leave a mark on a franchise that goes far beyond the stat sheet. Brandon Clarke was one of those players. On Tuesday, May 12, 2026, the Memphis Grizzlies confirmed that Clarke had passed away. He was 29 years old. The announcement sent shockwaves through the NBA community and left an entire city grieving.
Clarke, a power forward who spent his entire seven-season NBA career with the Grizzlies, was found unresponsive at a home in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles on Monday evening after emergency services responded to a 911 call. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that the cause of death is still pending further investigation.
From Gonzaga to Memphis A Journey Worth Remembering
Brandon Clarke grew up in Vancouver, Canada, and took an unconventional road to the NBA. He started his college career at San Jose State, where he quietly developed into a strong performer before transferring to Gonzaga in 2017. It was there that everything clicked.
In his lone season with the Gonzaga Bulldogs, Clarke was a force of nature — averaging 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and an impressive 3.2 blocks per game. He earned second-team All-American honors and put up a jaw-dropping 36-point performance on 15-of-18 shooting against Baylor in the NCAA Tournament. By the time the draft came around, teams were taking serious notice.
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Clarke with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, then quickly traded his rights to the Memphis Grizzlies. It turned out to be a perfect fit. Clarke arrived in Memphis the same year as Ja Morant and together they helped lay the foundation for one of the most exciting young teams in the league.
Career Highlights & Statistics
10.2Points per game
5.5Rebounds per game
309Career games played
7NBA seasons
Key Career Highlights
- Selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga University
- Named to the NBA All-Rookie Team in 2020 alongside teammate Ja Morant
- Key contributor to the 2021–22 Grizzlies team that won 56 games
- Grizzlies rewarded him with a multi-year contract extension in October 2022
- Averaged 16.9 points and 8.6 rebounds in his breakout Gonzaga season
- Scored a career high 36 points on 15-of-18 shooting vs. Baylor in the NCAA Tournament
- Spent his entire seven season NBA career with Memphis a true one-team player
- Averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds across 309 career NBA games
A Grizzlie Through and Through
Clarke was never the loudest name on the roster but he was always one of the most important. He thrived in his role as a high-energy big man off the bench a reliable defender, a smart finisher around the rim, and the kind of player coaches trust in big moments.
The 2021–22 season was his finest as a pro. That Grizzlies squad, powered by Morant and a cast of hungry young players, won 56 games and made a deep playoff run. Clarke was at the heart of it doing the dirty work, protecting the paint, and lifting teammates with his energy and attitude. Memphis fans adored him for it.
In later years injuries began to slow him down. A torn left Achilles tendon in March 2023 kept him off the court for most of the following season. He returned for 64 games in 2024–25, but this season, knee and calf issues limited him to just two appearances. He was still only 29 ,and everyone believed he had more chapters to write.
The NBA and Grizzlies Respond
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. Memphis Grizzlies official statement
We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke. 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. Adam Silver NBA Commissioner
“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. National Basketball Players Association (NBPA)
“He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family. Everyone loved BC because he was always there as the most supportive friend you could ever imagine. It’s just impossible to put into words how much he’ll be missed. Priority Sports, Clarke’s agency
What He Meant to Memphis
In a city that takes its basketball personally, Brandon Clarke was family. Memphis Grizzlies fans connected with him not just because of what he did on the court, but because of who he was off it. Teammates spoke of him as the first person to show up when someone needed support. Coaches trusted him. Fans cheered for him with real affection.
He was part of the team’s most exciting era the “Grit and Grind” generation had passed, and Clarke was a bridge to something new. A young, talented, gritty Grizzlies squad with a real shot at greatness. That journey was cut short by injuries, and now, far too soon, by his death.
For NBA news followers around the world, Clarke’s passing is a reminder of how fragile life is regardless of talent, youth, or promise.
A Community in Mourning
Within hours of the announcement, tributes flooded social media from former teammates, college coaches, fans and fellow NBA players. The basketball 2026 news cycle stopped cold. People who had watched Clarke play, who had cheered every block and every dunk, were simply heartbroken.
His Gonzaga coach Mark Few, who watched Clarke transform from a transfer into an All-American was among those processing the loss. From Vancouver to San Jose State to Gonzaga to Memphis every stop on Clarke’s journey produced people who loved him.
The Grizzlies organization, the city of Memphis, and the broader NBA family are all united in grief today. And in that grief, there is also gratitude for every game every moment, every memory he gave them.
His Legacy in the Game
Brandon Clarke leaves behind a legacy that is about more than numbers. Yes, the 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game over 309 career games tell part of the story. So does the All-Rookie selection, the 56 win season and the contract extension that showed just how much Memphis believed in him.
But the real legacy is simpler than that. He was a good teammate. A hard worker. A player who gave everything he had, even when injuries made that harder and harder. A person who by every account from those who knew him made the people around him better and happier just by being there.
That is not a small thing. In fact in a league full of talent and ambition. it is a rare and beautiful thing.
Conclusion: A Life Well Lived, A Loss Deeply Felt
Brandon Clarke was 29 years old. He had barely gotten started. There were more seasons ahead, more moments to be made, more people whose lives he would have touched. That those things will never happen is a tragedy plain and simple.
What remains is a body of work that any player would be proud of, and a reputation as a human being that most people spend a lifetime trying to earn. The Memphis Grizzlies forward, the NBA All-Rookie, the Gonzaga star, the Vancouver kid who made it he was all of those things.
But to the people who knew him best, he was simply Brandon. And the world is quieter without him.
“From high school to San Jose State to Gonzaga to the Grizzlies, Brandon impacted everyone who was part of his life.”Brandon Clarke · 1996 – 2026 · Rest in Peace
