The NBA has lost a bright star.
Brandon Clarke—who had been playing for the Memphis Grizzlies since 2019—died on May 11. He was 29.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies stated in a message to E! News on May 12. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.”
The team added, “We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical emergency at a San Fernando Valley home shortly after 5 p.m. on May 11, authorities informed NBC Los Angeles. Upon arrival, paramedics declared Clarke dead.
Drug paraphernalia was discovered in the home, authorities reported, and the incident is being investigated as a possible overdose.
In the wake of Clarke’s death, NBA commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute, calling him “one of the longest-tenured members of the Grizzlies.”
