Brandon Clarke (September 19, 1996–May 11, 2026) was a Canadian and American professional basketball player. He played for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
He played collegiate basketball for the San Jose State Spartans and the Gonzaga Bulldogs. He was drafted 21st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2019 NBA draft and promptly traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
He was chosen to the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team and competed in the Rising Stars Challenge in 2020.
Brandon Clarke died on May 11th, 2026 at age 29 from the overdose of paraphernalia
Brandon Clarke Biography
Clarke was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, on September 19, 1996, to Whitney Triplett, a Canadian, and Steve Clarke, a Jamaican. Clarke relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, with his family when he was three years old.
He is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. He attended Desert Vista High School in Phoenix. The Arizona Republic honoured him as an All-Arizona Division 1 honoree after leading Desert Vista to the 2015 title game.
Career
Clarke played two seasons at San Jose State University. As a freshman with the Spartans, he was voted Mountain West Conference Sixth Man of the Year by the league’s head coaches after averaging 10.1 points and 7.3 rebounds.
As a sophomore, he averaged 17.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 2.3 assists, earning All-Mountain West First and All-Defensive Team honours. After the season, he transferred to Gonzaga University and redshirted the 2017-18 season.
Clarke continued to progress during his junior season with the Bulldogs, earning West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and All-WCC First Team honours. Clarke was the only player in WCC history to earn both the Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year awards in the same season.
The Sporting News named him to its All-American Third Team. Clarke scored a career-high 36 points, along with eight rebounds, five blocks, and three assists, in an 83-71 victory over Baylor, the ninth seed.
He joined Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson as the only players in NCAA tournament history to have at least 35 points and five blocks in a single game.
Clarke also shattered the team record for most points scored in an NCAA Tournament game, which Adam Morrison had previously set.
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Clarke in the first round of the 2019 NBA draft with the 21st overall choice. The Memphis Grizzlies announced on July 7, 2019, that they have officially acquired Clarke’s rights from the Thunder in exchange for Darius Bazley’s draft rights and a future second-round draft pick.
With four double-doubles, he was voted the 2019 NBA Summer League’s most valuable player (MVP), becoming the second non-American to get the title. In the championship game, he led Memphis to the league championship with 15 points, 16 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks.
He also received game MVP honours, making him the first non-American to win championship MVP and the first player in Summer League history to win both honors.
Clarke made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, coming off the bench in a 101-120 defeat to the Miami Heat and contributing eight points, seven rebounds, an assist, and a block.
On December 18, he recorded a career-high 27 points and seven rebounds in a 122-126 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Clarke added 27 points, six rebounds, and two steals in a 111-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Clarke played in the 2020 Rising Stars Challenge, where he scored 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Clarke’s right quadriceps injury was disclosed on February 25, 2020, as a reason for his absence. On September 15, Clarke was named to the 2019-20 NBA All-Rookie First Team.
On December 16, 2020, the Grizzlies activated their team option on Clarke for the 2021-2022 season. On January 8, 2021, he had a season-high 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two blocks in a 115-110 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.
Clarke was nominated to the World Team for the 2021 Rising Stars Challenge, but the game was cancelled due to COVID-19-related restrictions. The Grizzlies made the playoffs for the first time since 2017, thanks to a string of play-in tournament victories.
Clarke made his playoff debut on May 29, in Game 3 of the Grizzlies’ first-round series against the Utah Jazz, playing seven minutes and grabbing one rebound. The Grizzlies were eliminated by the Jazz in five games.
On October 16, 2021, the Grizzlies exercised their team option for Clarke for the 2022-23 season. Clarke recorded a season-high 22 points and three rebounds in a 119-109 victory over the Utah Jazz on January 28, 2022.
The Grizzlies made the playoffs for the second consecutive season, facing the Minnesota Timberwolves in their first-round series. Clarke set postseason career highs of 21 points and 15 rebounds on April 26 in a 111-109 Game 5 victory.
On April 29, he had 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks as the Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 114-106 in Game 6. The Grizzlies were eventually defeated during the second round, as the Golden State Warriors beat them in six games.
On October 16, 2022, Clarke agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract deal with the Grizzlies. On March 3, 2023, during a 113-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets, he sustained a left leg injury and left the game after only two minutes. The next day, the Grizzlies reported that Clarke had a torn left Achilles, putting an end to his 2022-23 season.
Clarke appeared 64 times (18 starts) for the Grizzlies during the 2024-25 NBA season, averaging 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. Clarke was sidelined for the rest of the season on March 22, 2025, due to a severe PCL strain in his right knee.
On September 26, 2025, it was revealed that Clarke would need an arthroscopic operation to address knee synovitis, which he suffered during offseason training.
In 2024, Clarke announced his desire to play for the Canadian national team again.
Personal Life
Clarke was arrested on April 1, 2026, in Cross County, Arkansas, for possessing a controlled substance (more than 200 grams of kratom, a schedule 1 controlled substance in Arkansas), fleeing and exceeding the speed limit (more than 100 mph), and trafficking a controlled substance.
Clarke was released on a $25,000 bail and was set to appear at an arraignment hearing at 9 a.m. on May 15 in the St. Francis County District Court in Forrest City, Arkansas, before his death.
Death
Clarke passed away on May 11, 2026, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 29. His agency, Priority Sports, announced his death on May 12. His death is being examined as a probable overdose, and drug paraphernalia was discovered in his residence.
Brandon Clarke Net Worth
Brandon Clarke’s net worth was assessed at $8 million to $12 million at the time of his death in 2026. Throughout his career, he earned more than $50 million in guaranteed NBA earnings, which included NBA wages, guaranteed contracts, endorsements, and incentives.
By 2026, his net worth had risen to almost $60 million, thanks to his $50 million NBA contract and an annual salary of $12.5 million for the 2025-26 season.
Social Media
Instagram: @brandon_clarke23
