Andrew Buller-Russ
It’s been a tough year for Memphis Grizzlies fans. A year after the team fought to return to the playoffs thanks to a 48-win season, Memphis struggled greatly in head coach Tuomas Lisalo’s first full season with the team, winning just 25 games.
Now, Grizzlies friends and family are dealing with a much tougher hardship that no one ever wants to experience.
On Tuesday, Priority Sports agency revealed that one of their clients, Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, has passed away at the age of 29. According to the agency, Clarke officially passed away on May 11, 2026.
Clarke’s cause of death has not yet been revealed to the public.
— Priority Sports (@PrioritySports) May 12, 2026
The Oklahoma City Thunder made Clarke the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, but his rights had already been dealt to the Grizzlies in exchange for Darius Bazley and a future second-round pick. Clarke spent his entire seven-year career in Memphis, starting 50 of 309 appearances in the process.
Clarke had been sidelined since Dec. 20 with a calf injury; he ended his season having played in just two games. That was a common theme in recent years, with Clarke’s 2023-24 season ending after just six games due to injury.
The Vancouver, British Columbia native averaged 10.2 PPG and 5.5 RPG while playing 20.8 minutes per game throughout his NBA career as a member of the Grizzlies.
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