Brandon Clarke, the power forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, has died at the age of 29.
According to reports, Clarke passed away Monday, and authorities are investigating the death as a possible overdose. No official cause of death has been confirmed.
Clarke was selected with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder before being traded to Memphis. Over seven NBA seasons, he averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists across 309 games. He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie Team during his first season.
Born in Vancouver, Clarke played college basketball at San Jose State University before transferring to Gonzaga University in 2017. At Gonzaga, he became one of the team’s standout players and helped lead the program to a deep NCAA Tournament run. He earned All-American honors after averaging nearly 17 points per game.
Clarke’s most recent NBA season was cut short after he suffered a serious calf strain in March, limiting him to just two games.
Last month, Clarke was arrested in Arkansas following an alleged high-speed chase with law enforcement. He faced charges including possession and trafficking of a controlled substance, as well as fleeing police. The case remained open at the time of his death.
His agency, Priority Sports, released a statement saying they were “beyond devastated” by the loss, describing Clarke as a kind and supportive person who had a positive impact on everyone around him.
The Grizzlies also paid tribute, calling Clarke “an outstanding teammate and an even better person” whose impact on the team and Memphis community would never be forgotten.
Rest in peace.