Grizzlies forward, Desert Vista alum Brandon Clarke dead at 29

Brandon Clarke went to Desert Vista High School in Phoenix before a pair of college stops. He was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft.

BY TYLER DRAKE

May 12, 2026, 11:31 AM Updated: 1:12 pm

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Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on February 11, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Memphis Grizzlies forward and Desert Vista High School alum Brandon Clarke has died at the age of 29, his agency posted on social media.

The Grizzlies also released a statement.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke. 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 statement read. “We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

His death is being investigated as a possible drug overdose.

“We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a 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.”

Clarke, who graduated from Desert Vista High School in Phoenix before college stops at San Jose State (2015-17) and Gonzaga (2018-19), was the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He was then traded to the Grizzlies, where he started 50 of 309 games played across seven seasons. He averaged 10.2 points on 60.5% shooting and 26.6% from deep. He added 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.

Injuries had been an issue for Clarke in recent seasons, with the forward appearing in just two games (two starts) for Memphis last year due to a knee injury.

He only appeared in six games (one start) two seasons prior due to a torn Achilles.

The news of Clarke’s death comes after he was arrested on April 1 for speeding and possession of a controlled substance.

Tyler Drake Cardinals reporter and ArizonaSports.com editor

Born and raised in Kelseyville, California, I spent most of my summers growing up in Arizona. There were a lot of trips to Globe and the East Valley. Once out of high school, I attended the University of Arizona with a major in natural resources… Read more

Comments

EarlBlack JesusMonroe 2 months ago

Ca n you post your survey methodology and results to support your assertation, "The vast majority of people who use Kratom (as in plain leaf, not 7-OH extracts) have never experienced an overdose"? Rough estimates place the number of users in the United States anywhere from 2 million to 16 million.

Brad Szpytek 2 months ago

The vast majority of people who use Kratom (as in plain leaf, not 7-OH extracts) have never experienced an overdose. So yes, it IS extremely difficult to overdose. You would need insane amounts of powdered Kratom to OD, and most people who “overdose” just throw up and they survive. Where are you getting this information about people who have OD’d and died from Kratom alone? Can you rule out previously existing health conditions?

EarlBlack JesusMonroe 2 months ago

It actually isn't "extremely, almost impossible to OD on Kratom alone". varying different agencies have reported enough deaths on Kratom alone to prove that statement as false. Kratom mimics opioid use and I'm suggesting that the user gets high enough to seek stronger drugs such Fentanyl. Kratom is derived from a naturally growing plant in Southeast Asia that is a natural psychotic. Heroin is derived from Poppy Poppies. African Khat plant is a natural amphetamine. Peyote is a psychedelic cactus. Psilocybin mushrooms are a hallucinogenic. Cocaine from the Coca leaf.

Clarke had been recently arrested with 235 grams of Kratom. He was chasing a serious high.

Grizzlies forward, Desert Vista alum Brandon Clarke dead at 29

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