Canadian basketball player Brandon Clarke died at the age of 29. On Tuesday, his club Memphis Grizzlies, his agency Priority Sports, the NBA management and the AP agency informed about it.
The Grizzlies and the player’s agency did not immediately provide details on when, where or under what circumstances Clarke died. At the beginning of April, he was arrested in the American state of Arkansas for speeding and possession of a prohibited substance. According to reports, it was kratom, an herbal supplement promoted as an alternative pain reliever. It is legal to possess in the state of Tennessee. A day later he was released on bail.
Clark was selected 21st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2019 NBA draft following his tenure at Gonzaga University. He subsequently traded the rights to the player to the Memphis Grizzlies, who selected Ja Morant from the second position in the same draft. Together with Morant, Clarke made the NBA rookie team in 2020 and signed a multi-year contract extension with the Grizzlies in October 2022.
On March 3, 2023, he tore his left Achilles tendon in a game against the Denver Nuggets. Injuries have limited him to only 72 of a possible 246 games in the past three seasons, and he has started only twice this season.
