Following Brandon Clarke’s passing, we list his best moments from his too-short basketball career, from his start at San Jose State, through Gonzaga, and into the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies.
5. The Block vs. Tennessee
One of Clarke’s greatest showtime Gonzaga highlights came against the Tennessee Volunteers, where he swatted a close shot into the stands. Clarke finished the game with 21 points, two blocks, three steals, and nine rebounds.
4. The playoff win-sealing tip-out
One of Clarke’s best NBA highlights came in the clutch, swatting a rebound out to Ja Morant, who buried a critical three to help beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. The über-athletic play helped the Grizzlies beat the Wolves in the series, the only Memphis playoff series win since 2015.
3. Career-high 27 NBA points vs. Thunder
Earning an NBA All-Rookie First Team nod wasn’t too much trouble for Clarke, and one of his finest career performances came that season. He set a career-high in scoring with 27 points against Oklahoma City, plus seven rebounds on the side. His points and rebounds per game were at an all-time high after his rookie season.
2. 36-point Zags domination over Baylor
Clarke’s shining moment came in the 2019 NCAA Tournament, where he scored a career-high 36 points and earned five blocks. He’s the first player in March Madness with those numbers since Shaquille O’Neal. The win helped the Zags advance to the Elite 8, where they fell to national runner-ups Texas Tech.
1. The Brandon Clarke Foundation
Clarke’s greatest achievement came off the court when he founded the Brandon Clarke Foundation. The charity, founded last year, serves families affected by tragedies and helps donate heavily to Arise2Read, a Memphis-based literacy non-profit organization.
May Brandon rest in peace.
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