Brandon Clarke spent all seven of his NBA seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies — a kind of loyalty that barely exists in professional basketball anymore. He died Monday at 29.

The Grizzlies confirmed his death in a statement Tuesday. No official cause has been released. ABC News, citing Los Angeles Police Department sources, reported that Clarke was found dead at a residence in the San Fernando Valley from a possible drug overdose. Narcotics were found at the scene and there was no evidence of foul play, according to those sources.

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Clarke played two seasons at San Jose State — earning Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year as a freshman — before transferring to Gonzaga. There, he became the first player in West Coast Conference history to win both Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Clarke 21st overall in the 2019 NBA draft and immediately traded him to Memphis, where he became a trusted rotation big. He averaged 10.2 points per game across his career, earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2020, and signed a four-year, $50 million extension in 2022.

A torn Achilles tendon in 2023 derailed everything. Clarke appeared in just six games the following season and only two in 2025-26, sidelined by calf and knee injuries. In April, he was arrested in Arkansas after a high-speed pursuit; an arrest affidavit obtained by the Memphis Commercial Appeal said deputies found over 230 grams of kratom, classified as a controlled substance in that state, in his possession.

The statements came quickly and were unanimous in their warmth. The Grizzlies called him “an outstanding teammate and an even better person.” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised his “enormous passion and grit.” Priority Sports, his agency, described him as “the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family.”

Teammate Ja Morant posted tributes on Instagram. Outside the FedExForum in Memphis, a fan placed flowers beneath a banner bearing Clarke’s image.

He is survived by his mother, Whitney, and his family.

Sources