Basketball star Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies forward, dies at age 29

Neither the Grizzlies nor Clarke’s agency, Priority Sports, immediately released details surrounding his death.Published On 12 May 2026Brandon Clarke, an athlete for the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States, has died at the age of 29, according to his team, the Memphis Grizzlies.No cause of death was immediately announced. Local media reports indicate he was pronounced dead at a home in California’s San Fernando Valley after emergency workers responded to a call for help.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘Campeones’: Wild celebrations as Barcelona clinch La Liga in El Clasicolist 2 of 3One month to the World Cup: Five trending topics among football fanslist 3 of 3Title turning point: Can Man City still edge Arsenal to win Premier League?end of list“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies said in a statement on Tuesday.“Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.”Born in Vancouver, Canada, Clarke was selected as the 21st pick overall in the 2019 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, before his rights were traded to Memphis on draft night.He spent his entire NBA career with the Grizzlies and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020 after averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in his debut season.Injuries, including knee, calf and Achilles issues, limited his appearances in recent years. Clarke played just two games during the 2025-26 season.“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.“As one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit. Our thoughts are with Brandon’s family, friends and the Grizzlies organization.”The agency that represented him, Priority Sports, wrote in a statement that its members were “beyond devastated” by Clarke’s death.