Ja Morant expressed deep sorrow over the death of his Memphis Grizzlies teammate Brandon Clarke, sharing heartfelt tributes on social media. Clarke, who played all seven seasons of his NBA career with Morant, is remembered fondly by his teammates.
Key points
Ja Morant mourns the death of teammate Brandon Clarke
Clarke played seven seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies
Morant shared a series of posts to his Instagram stories on Tuesday, May 12 expressing his appreciation for Clarke, who spent all seven seasons of his NBA career in Memphis with Morant.
The first post was a media day photo of Morant laughing while reaching out for a high-five from Clarke with Jaren Jackson Jr. also grinning widely on Morant's other side.
The second picture showed Clarke hugging Morant from behind during a game.
"this hurt BC," Morant said with a broken heart emoji, "love you broski. gone way too soon." He added, "its' bigger than basketball."
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died, his sports agency announced in a statement released on Tuesday, May 12. He was 29-years-old.
Clarke was in the 2019 NBA Draft and was traded to Memphis that day. He played one season at Gonzaga.
Q&A
What did Ja Morant say about Brandon Clarke's death?
Ja Morant shared heartfelt tributes on social media, expressing his sorrow and appreciation for Clarke.
How long did Brandon Clarke play with the Memphis Grizzlies?
Brandon Clarke spent all seven seasons of his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies.
What kind of tribute did Morant post on Instagram for Clarke?
Morant posted media day photos and a picture of Clarke hugging him during a game to honor his memory.
When did Brandon Clarke pass away?
Brandon Clarke's passing was reported on May 12.
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This season, he suffered a calf injury in December that sidelined him for the rest of the campaign.
See his career on and off court in photos.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs puts up a shot against the Texas A&M Aggies in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on November 15, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Texas A&M 94-71.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes to the basket against Darrin Person #25 and Greg Lee #21 of the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 31, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated CSU Bakersfield 89-54.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes up for a shot against Kaleb Bishop #12 of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the first half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks the ball against the Baylor Bears during their game in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Brandon Clarke speaks to the media ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Grand Hyatt New York on June 19, 2019 in New York City.
Brandon Clarke reacts after being drafted with the 21st overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies brings the ball up the court against the New Orleans Pelicans during a semifinal game of the 2019 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Grizzlies defeated the Pelicans 88-86 in overtime.
Summer League co-founder Albert Hall (L) presents Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies with the 2019 NBA Las Vegas Summer League MVP trophy before the championship game of the 2019 NBA Summer League between the Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots against Canyon Barry #24 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the championship game of the 2019 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 95-92.
Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a portrait during the 2019 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 11, 2019 at the Ferguson Recreation Center in Madison, New Jersey.
Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers has the ball knocked out of his hands by Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of the basketball game at Staples Center on October 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball against Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at Chase Center on May 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket against Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on January 9, 2022 in Los Angeles.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a photo during Memphis Grizzlies Media Day at FedExForum on October 2, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at FedExForum on November 6, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum on December 19, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a photo during media day at FedExForum on September 30, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Brandon Clarke (15) drives to the basket while defended by San Antonio Spurs center Charles Bassey (28) during the first half at Frost Bank Center on Jan. 15, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (15) walks to the locker room before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on March 19, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.
Grizzlies' Brandon Clarke (15) walks onto the court for open practice at the FedExForum on October 4, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn.
Grizzlies' Brandon Clarke (15) and Grizz talk on the bench during open practice at the FedExForum on October 4, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn.
1 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died, his sports agency announced in a statement released on Tuesday, May 12. He was 29-years-old.
This season, he suffered a calf injury in December that sidelined him for the rest of the campaign.
See his career on and off court in photos.
2 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs puts up a shot against the Texas A&M Aggies in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on November 15, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Texas A&M 94-71.
3 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes to the basket against Darrin Person #25 and Greg Lee #21 of the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 31, 2018 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated CSU Bakersfield 89-54.
4 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs goes up for a shot against Kaleb Bishop #12 of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights during the first half in the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 21, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
5 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks the ball against the Baylor Bears during their game in the Second Round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 23, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
6 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke speaks to the media ahead of the 2019 NBA Draft at the Grand Hyatt New York on June 19, 2019 in New York City.
7 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke reacts after being drafted with the 21st overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
8 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies brings the ball up the court against the New Orleans Pelicans during a semifinal game of the 2019 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 14, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Grizzlies defeated the Pelicans 88-86 in overtime.
9 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Summer League co-founder Albert Hall (L) presents Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies with the 2019 NBA Las Vegas Summer League MVP trophy before the championship game of the 2019 NBA Summer League between the Grizzlies and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
10 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots against Canyon Barry #24 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the championship game of the 2019 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 95-92.
11 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a portrait during the 2019 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on August 11, 2019 at the Ferguson Recreation Center in Madison, New Jersey.
12 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers has the ball knocked out of his hands by Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half of the basketball game at Staples Center on October 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
13 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors dribbles the ball against Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first quarter in Game Six of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Western Conference Semifinals at Chase Center on May 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California.
14 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies drives to the basket against Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on January 9, 2022 in Los Angeles.
15 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a photo during Memphis Grizzlies Media Day at FedExForum on October 2, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee.
16 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball against Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at FedExForum on November 6, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during the first half against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum on December 19, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
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Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Brandon Clarke #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies poses for a photo during media day at FedExForum on September 30, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee.
19 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Memphis Grizzlies guard Brandon Clarke (15) drives to the basket while defended by San Antonio Spurs center Charles Bassey (28) during the first half at Frost Bank Center on Jan. 15, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas.
20 / 22
Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (15) walks to the locker room before a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center on March 19, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.
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Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Grizzlies' Brandon Clarke (15) walks onto the court for open practice at the FedExForum on October 4, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn.
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Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos
Grizzlies' Brandon Clarke (15) and Grizz talk on the bench during open practice at the FedExForum on October 4, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn.
The third Instagram story reshared a post from Devin Walker, the Grizzlies' social/digital coordinator, paying tribute to Clarke. Morant specifically shared a video of himself walking off the court after the 2019 Summer League championship with Clarke, holding a trophy. Clarke was the game's MVP after notching a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds as the Grizzlies beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 95-92 to win the championship.
"I'm walking with a GOAT right here," Morant said in the video.
"still our goat," he added in the Instagram story caption with a goat emoji. "BC15"
Both players were selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft. Morant was taken No. 2 overall by the Grizzlies and Clarke was chosen at No. 21 by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who traded him to Memphis the same day.
