Brandon Clarke, former forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, has died at age 29. Authorities are investigating the possibility of an overdose after emergency responders found him unresponsive at a California residence. An official cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
The Grizzlies called Clarke “an outstanding teammate and an even better person,” while NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised him as a passionate and respected leader.
Originally from Vancouver, Clarke starred at Gonzaga University before entering the 2019 NBA Draft and joining Memphis, where he spent his entire NBA career. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over more than 300 games and earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors.
Despite injuries slowing his career in recent years, Clarke remained deeply involved in community work, supporting literacy programs and launching the Brandon Clarke Foundation in 2025.
Friends, teammates, and fans are remembering him not only for his basketball talent, but for his kindness, generosity, and positive impact on those around him.