NBA Star Brandon Clarke Dead at 29
Brandon Clarke's former teammates are huddling up following the tragic death of the 29-year-old NBA athlete.
"We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke," the Memphis Grizzlies shared of their star forward in a May 12 statement to E! News. "Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization 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 found dead in a San Fernando Valley home May 11 after the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a medical emergency call shortly after 5 p.m., law enforcement told NBC4 Investigates.
After his unexpected death, several members of the basketball community shared their sorrow.
"We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a social media 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 and sympathies are with Brandon’s family, friends and the Grizzlies organization."
Teammate Ja Morant provided an assist on Instagram, writing, "This hurt BC. Love you broski. Gone way too soon. It’s bigger than basketball." And while Clarke is gone, Morant made it clear the late forward is "still our goat."
To learn more about Clarke, keep reading.
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1996, the basketball player had a deep love of both the game and his community.
"I’m just really a funny, goofy guy," he said in a 2020 interview recently resurfaced by the NBA. "I’m trying to be creative really and trying to do things that are out of the box, that haven’t been done before. And just really trying to find a way to make myself better, my family better, everyone around me."
He dished out these assists both on and off the court. In addition to his basketball skills, Clarke was a musician—releasing songs under the name BCVS. He dropped the track “all white gold” in July 2025.
"Appreciate the love y'all been giving me," Clarke wrote on Instagram at the time, "made this drop real fun."
But the love he had for his inner circle remained No. 15's No. 1.
"He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all his friends and family," his sports agency Priority Sports wrote in a statement after Clarke’s passing. "Our hearts are broken as we think about his mom, Whitney, his entire family and all of his friends and teammates."
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Law enforcement told NBC4 Investigates that paramedics declared Clarke dead at the scene May 11. Authorities added drug paraphernalia was discovered in the home and that Clarke's passing was being investigated as a possible overdose. However, an official cause of death has yet to be revealed.
After moving from Canada to the United States, Clarke began his basketball career at Desert Vista High School in Arizona. He then went on to play college ball, first at San Jose State—where he was named the Sixth Man of the Year for the Mountain West Conference—and then at Gonzaga.
In 2019, Clarke was a first-round selection at the NBA draft. Though chosen as the 21st pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was immediately traded to the Grizzlies. And the move paid off for Memphis. He averaged 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game during his first season and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
In 2022, the Grizzlies signed Clarke to a four-year, $52 million contract extension, per the Associated Press. In recent years, however, he experienced a few setbacks. After tearing his Achilles in 2023, he suffered both a 2025 knee injury and a calf strain, resulting in him playing in just two games this past season.
Sports injuries weren’t the only challenges Clarke faced. According to USA Today, citing Arkansas' Cross County Sheriff’s Office records, he was arrested April 1—just over a month prior to his passing—on charges of fleeing/exceeding the speed limit, trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and improper passing. The case was still open at the time of his death, according to court records viewed by E! News, with an arraignment scheduled for May 15.
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