29-Year-Old Brandon Clarke’s Untimely Death Leaves Ja Morant and NBA Community Broken – “This Hurt”

Brandon Clarke was one of the players from the old Ja Morant core whom the Memphis Grizzlies wanted to keep.

29-Year-Old Brandon Clarke’s Untimely Death Leaves Ja Morant and NBA Community Broken – “This Hurt”

Brandon Clarke and Ja Morant (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Brandon Clarke, a 29-year-old NBA player, was found dead in his Los Angeles home, with drug paraphernalia present.
  • Ja Morant and the NBA community expressed deep sorrow over Clarke's untimely death, highlighting their close bond.
  • The cause of death is under investigation, with initial reports suggesting a possible overdose linked to Clarke's recent legal troubles.

Ja Morant has usually faced the wrath of the NBA community, especially after his gun-related incidents came to light. But when his teammate, Brandon Clarke, passed away, those same fans mourned together with the superstar point guard.

The two arrived in the 2019 draft, one as the second-overall pick, and the other at No. 21. Despite that difference, what truly stood out was how close the two were.

In fact, the two were close with former teammate Jaren Jackson Jr., after sharing many moments playing with and against each other on AAU, high school, and college teams.

Their bond was close enough that when JJJ was traded, the other two felt as if one of their brothers was gone. But they were also probably aware that the three would eventually split up.

Trade discussions surrounding Ja Morant have engulfed headlines of Memphis-based publications, which meant at some point, he would no longer be beside one of his ‘brothers.’

But little did the two-time All-Star know that Brandon Clarke would be the one bidding him goodbye first. Shams Charania first broke the news that the 29-year-old had passed away in his house in Los Angeles, California.

NBC 4 reported that when paramedics arrived at 5 PM to respond to a medical emergency call, they found the Canadian forward dead.

They found drug paraphernalia inside the house where the Gonzaga alum was staying. His body has been sent for an autopsy to determine the true cause of his death.

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Ja Morant leads shocked reactions to Brandon Clarke’s death

No matter what the reason, it is heartbreaking for a teammate to know that someone he grew up with passed away this early in his life. That is what led Ja Morant to post a series of tributes to Brandon Clarke.

He was joined by NBA fans who were first shocked at this news. Then, when they realized what may have happened, they poured their hearts out on social media. Check out examples of those responses below.

Ja Morant's tribute
Ja Morant’s tribute (Image via SS/IG)

On April 1st this year, Brandon Clark found himself entangled with the law when he was arrested for speeding and possession of a controlled substance. That, and the paraphernalia found at his home, is why paramedics initially believed that his death could be the result of an overdose.

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NBA community also lost another veteran

Just when the NBA community was feeling the emotions of Brandon Clarke’s untimely death, Shams Charania dropped another bomb on X.

Jason Collins with tennis legend Billie Jean King
Jason Collins with tennis legend Billie Jean King (Image via BJK Foundation/X)

13-year NBA veteran Jason Collins has died at 47 years old after a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma. Collins was the first active, openly gay player in NBA history. RIP.

Shams Charania wrote on X

The former 13th overall pick died at his home in California after struggling in his battle with brain cancer. After being the first openly gay player in league history, Jason Collins‘ impact on the community was massive. He was the voice of reason for many, and that is why this hit hard for NBA fans.

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