Dillon Brooks Reacts to Death of Former Grizzlies Teammate Brandon Clarke

Tragedy struck the basketball world this week when it was announced Tuesday that Brandon Clarke, forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, died at the age of 29.

His agency, Priority Sports, confirmed the news, and Clarke reportedly passed away Monday at his home in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.

Clarke was selected with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder before his draft rights were traded to Memphis.

He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and, despite injuries impacting the latter stages of his career, played a key role in the Grizzlies reaching the playoffs four times during his seven seasons with the organization.

The Grizzlies said in a statement that they were "heartbroken by the tragic loss" and added, "Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten."

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Reacting to the tragic news just hours after it was confirmed was not only Ja Morant, who shared several photos of the two together along with an emotional message, but also former Grizzlies teammate Dillon Brooks.

Brooks, who was drafted by Memphis in 2017, spent four seasons playing alongside Brandon Clarke during their time with the organization.

"Rest in peace my brother… love you. You will always be remembered," Brooks posted on Instagram.

Adam Silver spoke extremely highly of Clarke in a statement released almost immediately after the tragic news broke.

"As one of the longest-tenured members of the Memphis Grizzlies, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit," Silver said in a statement. "Our thoughts and sympathies are with Brandon’s family, friends and the Grizzlies organization."

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This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 11:01 AM.