Brandon Clarke, a forward who spent his entire NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies, has died at the age of 29, the club and his representatives have confirmed.
Clarke’s agency, Priority Sports, confirmed the news in a social media post on Tuesday. The cause of death was not disclosed. The Memphis Grizzlies issued a statement 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 organisation and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten. We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Clarke was selected with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder and was immediately traded to Memphis, where he would spend his entire professional career. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists across 309 games in the NBA. In his debut season he averaged 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team, finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and quickly establishing himself as one of the more promising young big men in the league.
The Grizzlies rewarded his development by signing him to a four-year, $52 million contract extension in 2022, but injuries subsequently hampered his ability to stay on the court consistently. He appeared in only two games during the 2025-26 season after suffering a significant calf strain, and had been expected to return fully fit for the following campaign.
Clarke was born in Vancouver and played college basketball at San Jose State before transferring to Gonzaga in 2017, where he helped lead Mark Few’s squad to a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, ultimately falling at the Elite Eight stage.
The NBA community responded with an outpouring of tributes. ESPN’s Shams Charania was among the first to confirm the news on X, writing simply: “Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies has died at 29 years old. RIP.” Tributes from current and former players followed rapidly across social media.
Clarke is survived by his family. No further details surrounding the circumstances of his death have been released at this time.
