Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies player, dies at 29

Brandon Clarke, forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, has died. He was 29 years old.

FILE – Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a portrait on Nov. 24, 2025 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

What we know:

Emergency personnel who responded to the scene found drug paraphernalia in the home, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because those details were not released publicly.

What we don’t know:

An autopsy was scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

What they’re saying:

“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,” the team shared in a statement on its official X account on Tuesday.

Local perspective:

The San Jose State Men’s Basketball team shared their condolences after Clarke’s passing on its X account on Tuesday.

Clarke had played for SJSU during the 2016-2017 season.

What we don’t know:

How, when or where Clarke died has yet to be revealed.

The backstory:

Clarke was the 21st overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2019 NBA draft by Oklahoma, which dealt his rights to the Grizzlies, who already took guard Ja Morant at No. 2 overall. Clarke joined Morant on the NBA’s All-Rookie team in 2020, and the Grizzlies gave him a multiyear contract extension in October 2022.

He tore his left Achilles tendon March 3, 2023, in a loss to the Denver Nuggets in a showdown of the top two teams in the Western Conference. Injuries limited him to 72 of a possible 246 games over the past three seasons, including only two this season.

Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over his seven seasons with the Grizzlies.

Clarke was arrested April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and possession of a controlled substance that was reportedly kratom, an herbal supplement promoted as an alternative pain remedy that becomes illegal in Tennessee as of July 1. He was released on bond a day later.