Brandon Clarke, a forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, has died at 29, his sports agency confirmed Tuesday. No cause of death was disclosed.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical emergency shortly after 5pm local time at a residence in the San Fernando Valley, according to NBC. Clarke was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Clarke's agency, Priority Sports, released a statement expressing deep grief over his death. "He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family," the statement read. The agency noted Clarke's impact stretching from high school through his professional career, touching everyone he encountered along the way.
The Grizzlies organization issued its own statement, calling Clarke "an outstanding teammate and an even better person" whose contributions to both the franchise and Memphis community would be remembered. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement, describing Clarke as "a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit."
Clarke built a notable basketball resume before joining Memphis. He starred at both San Jose State and Gonzaga, then was selected 21st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2019 draft. He landed with the Grizzlies and earned All-Rookie honors in his first NBA season in 2020. The team signed him to a four-year extension in 2022, though injuries hampered him in recent years. He underwent knee surgery and suffered a torn achilles in March 2023 that kept him sidelined for extended stretches.
Clarke was active in community service. Born in Vancouver before his family relocated to the United States during his childhood, he celebrated his 29th birthday by donating books and resources to a local elementary school in Memphis. He spoke publicly about the importance of education, telling the Memphis Commercial Appeal that he emphasized to young people how crucial school, teachers, and grades truly are to success.
Author James Rodriguez: "Clarke's trajectory from an undrafted prep player to an NBA All-Rookie told the story of relentless work, but his real legacy appears to have been the quiet kindness he showed to people around him."
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