Memphis Grizzlies to honor Brandon Clarke with a jersey patch following his death

The Memphis Grizzlies announced they will honor the memory of late forward Brandon Clarke during their 2026-27 regular-season home opener and throughout the championship. Before the first game against the Utah Jazz on October 21 there will be a pregame tribute and a moment of silence, while players will wear a patch with the initials “BC” on their jerseys for the entire 2026-27 season.

According to Bleacher Report, Clarke died in May at the age of 29. In August, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office announced that the cause of death was an accidental overdose, while he had been part of the Grizzlies roster for seven seasons, from 2019 to 2026.

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Clarke played collegiately for Gonzaga and was drafted 21st in the 2019 NBA draft. He spent his entire professional career in Memphis, where he started 50 of the 309 regular-season games in which he appeared. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists, shooting 60.5% from the field. In 2020 he averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists, finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

His career also featured standout performances such as in the first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022, where he averaged 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.0 blocks per game over the six-game series. He was seriously injured in 2023-24 and played only six games due to a torn Achilles, while last season was limited to two games due to knee and calf problems. Clarke holds the Grizzlies record for the highest field-goal percentage and ranks 10th in club history with 246 blocks.

The announcement of the tribute and the patch was made public by the club and picked up by the media; Bleacher Report reported on the team’s plans and the memorial details.