All seemed to be OK with Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke just days before his tragic death on Monday.
A barber who cut Clarke’s hair on Friday in Los Angeles told TMZ that Clarke seemed perfectly content during the haircut and that they were even watching the NBA playoffs during the appointment.
Clarke was staying with a friend from college while he was in Southern California.
The barber said they were watching Spurs-Timberwolves Game 3 when Clarke was getting his haircut.
Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies goes to the basket during the second half against the Utah Jazz at FedExForum on March 12, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. Getty Images Clarke’s death is being investigated as a possible overdose, according to multiple reports.
NBC Los Angeles reported that the fire department received a 911 call shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday and that the Grizzlies player was pronounced dead at the scene.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the league was “devastated” over Clarke’s death and called the player a “beloved teammate and leader” who “played the game with enormous passion and grit.”
The Grizzlies mourned Clarke with a statement of their own.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies said. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.
Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies shoots a free throw during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 14, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images “We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Clarke was taken by the Grizzlies with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and played in 309 NBA games, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds.
He spent all seven seasons of his NBA career in Memphis and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020.
Clarke appeared in two games this season due to a knee and calf injury.
