Brandon Clarke will never be forgotten
Emotions and memories flow, as Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke tragically loses his life
Tuesday afternoon, the Memphis Grizzlies and Priority Sports announced the passing of 29-year-old veteran forward Brandon Clarke.
A whirlwind of emotions hit as the news broke, all synonymous with one another. My heart fell to my stomach. Absolutely shattered for Clarke’s family, the Memphis Grizzlies organization, and anyone a part of his life. Shock hits as a human is tragically gone in the prime of his life. Within these emotions, memories just swirl in your head — how he interacted with teammates and fans, how everybody talked about him, how he impacted winning and the moment he created within it, and how he resonated with the city and everything the organization has been about.
It was quite evident to everybody that Clarke was the ultimate teammate. He relished in everybody’s successes whether that was on the court, on the bench, in postgame, in interviews, on social media, or off the court. He wanted his guys to thrive in every aspect of life. He never led or interacted with frustration or anger. He always sought to figure things out with intentionality, possessing the intention to do whatever it takes to win and to be on the same page. You rarely saw him around his teammates without a smile. Two of the images that embody what he was about as a teammate are him wrapping his arms around Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
Whether it was a veteran helping him out as a young player, the guys who grew up in the NBA with him, or the newcomers he took under his wing, Clarke’s joy, smile, and energy radiated throughout the locker room.
On the court, it didn’t take him long to make a strong impression with the Grizzlies’ fanbase. He won the Summer League MVP with his efficient scoring and emphatic shot-blocking.
His elite athleticism quickly translated. En route to an All-Rookie First Team selection, he averaged 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds on a 66.3 true shooting percentage in 22.4 minutes per game, one of the most efficient scoring seasons from a rookie in NBA history. In the process, he established himself as a key fixture next to Morant and Jackson, while being a focal point off the bench. He created big-time moments with his poster dunks, scoring pop, and his standout performance in the bubble.
In his third year, Clarke stamped himself into Grizzlies’ lore. He was vital in the Grizzlies’ rise to the top of the Western Conference, as his presence was always a fixture in the biggest moments of the Grz Next Gen era. The moments that will stand out the most were his performance in the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where his relentless energy and tenacity fueled that series win for Memphis. He had multiple offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter of Game 5 and joined the Gasol brothers and Zach Randolph as the only players to have a 20-point, 15-rebound performance in a playoff game. With his playoff performance shining the brightest, Clarke showed that he will do whatever it takes to help his team win.
Clarke had kept that momentum into the 2022-23 season after signing a four-year, $50M extension with his efficient play — standout performances on the road against Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Golden State are ones that come to mind for me. Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to a torn Achilles.
From there, Clarke battled injuries on and off. He returned to the floor over a year after his torn Achilles to finish off the 2023-24 season. He played in 64 games in the 2024-25 season — continuing his positive impact on the floor with his versatile defense, money floater, and all the intangibles he brought to Memphis in his seven years with the team. Unfortunately, his 2024-25 season was cut short due to a knee injury. This past season, he only got to play 5 quarters of basketball after straining his calf in December.
The last moments we saw of Brandon Clarke, in a public media sense, were in the community. In September, Clarke visited KIPP Collegiate Academy, a local school, to present a $1,500 check to ARISE2Read, a local nonprofit organization supporting local students and promoting literacy skills — followed by a surprise “Happy Birthday” song from the students to him. In December, he visited a local Boys and Girls Club and hosted students for dinner with some Christmas gifts.
These moments show the kind of person Brandon Clarke was, as he embodied the long mantra in Memphis — “if you love Memphis, it’ll love you back.”
With remembering Brandon Clarke, so many moments and staples come to mind.
His signature push-shot, no matter the defender or distance.
His alley-oop dunks, with a few posters here and there. This image immediately comes to mind.
His pick-and-roll with either Ja Morant or Tyus Jones felt like an automatic bucket.
His synergy with Jaren Jackson Jr. They had a real power of friendship, as their off-floor closeness translated to utter dominance on the both sides of the court.
His knack for the winning play — the offensive rebound, blocking a shot, taking on a switch and getting a stop on a close play.
His game was truly unique as a 6’8” center with the efficiency of a giant.
Through all this, as well as how he attacked his recoveries from injuries, the “grit and grind” mantra radiated through him. That grit-and-grind spirit was even evident throughout his basketball journey — an under-recruited big man who went from San Jose State to being a first-team All-American at Gonzaga, to being a first-round pick, to impacting the city of Memphis on and off the court as a Grizzly. He embodied everything the city has gravitated to since the Grizzlies came to Memphis. He played the game, built connections with the organization, and was a leader in the community with all heart, grit and grind.
There was a light with Clarke that was evident through those around him — the teammates, the coaching staff, the organization, fans through videos, and the city. He played the game and interacted with others with pure joy.
Those are the moments, characteristics, and facts about Brandon Clarke that I’ll never forget.
My heart goes out to Brandon Clarke’s family, the Memphis Grizzlies organization, and all who were a part of his life. My prayers, thoughts, and condolences are with them.
We will miss you, Brandon Clarke, and the city of Memphis will never forget you.