Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died aged 29, his NBA team has confirmed.

Clarke was a first-round NBA draft pick in 2019 but has only played two games this season due to injury.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke. Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten,” the Grizzlies said in a statement.

“We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”

His agents, Priority Sports, wrote on social media that they were “beyond devastated” by Clarke’s death.

“He was so loved by all of us here and everyone whose life he touched,” they said.

“He was the gentlest soul who was the first to be there for all of his friends and family.”

Clarke was arrested April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and possession of a controlled substance that was reportedly kratom, a herbal supplement promoted as an alternative pain remedy that is legal to possess in Tennessee. He was released on bond a day later.

He was the 21st overall pick out of Gonzaga in the 2019 NBA draft by Oklahoma, which dealt his rights to the Grizzlies, who already took guard Ja Morant at No 2 overall.

Clarke joined Morant on the NBA’s All-Rookie team in 2020, and the Grizzlies gave him a multiyear contract extension in October 2022.

He tore his left Achilles tendon March 3, 2023, in a loss to the Denver Nuggets in a showdown of the top two teams in the Western Conference. Injuries limited him to 72 of a possible 246 games over the past three seasons, including only two this season.

Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over his seven seasons with the Grizzlies. (Sky Sports)

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Veteran National Basketball Association (NBA) player Stephen Howard and veteran Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) player Astou Ndiaye have hosted training sessions for school-level basketball players and their coaches from across the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and Uva provinces in Sri Lanka. 

According to the US Embassy in Colombo, the Embassy in collaboration with the Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab hosted the veteran NBA and veteran WNBA players as part of the U.S. Sports Envoy program from June 8-14.   

Collaborating with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, they also led workshops for the national basketball teams, including both male and female squads, and their coaches. In addition, the Sports Envoys and staff from the U.S. Embassy renovated a girls’ changing room at a school in Colombo to help make basketball more accessible for young female athletes. 

The visit also featured motivational talks focusing on leadership and embracing failure as a crucial step towards success, aimed at inspiring young athletes to value leadership, teamwork, and dedication, both on and off the basketball court. 

Speaking at an exhibition game in Colombo for boys and girls who underwent intense coaching sessions with the U.S. Sports Envoys, Heidi Hattenbach, Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy, said “The U.S. Embassy is proud to contribute to empowering the next generation of leaders in Sri Lanka. Our Sports Envoys, Stephen and Astou, taught these youth about leadership and working together, including the importance of perseverance and learning from failure. They conveyed a powerful message: It’s not just about basketball; it’s about life. Embracing our failures equips us with the resilience and lessons to lead and succeed in any field.”  

 Summarizing what basketball has taught her, Envoy Astou Ndiaye shared the following words of encouragement for all the Sri Lankan youth she met during her visit, “Have the courage to write your own life story because all is possible with hard work.” 

Reflecting on his visit, Envoy Stephen Howard said, “If I hadn’t visited Sri Lanka, I would never have known about the immense pride and heart that all Sri Lankans exhibit.  As much as I would like to think that I taught those who participated in the camps we administered, in the end, I learned just as much from them. I’m happy to say that being a Sports Envoy has allowed me to add new teammates and friends here in Sri Lanka.  Thank you for the amazing hospitality everywhere we visited.”  

About the U.S. Sports Envoy Program: The U.S. Sports Envoy program, managed by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, sends professional American athletes and coaches overseas to engage in sports-based programming. These envoys lead sports clinics, participate in community outreach activities, and engage youth in dialogues on the importance of leadership, teamwork, and respect for diversity. The program aims to promote mutual understanding and build positive relationships between the United States and other countries through sports. (Newswire)   

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