MEMPHIS — I have been to multiple U.S. cities as a foreigner. Never to Memphis though. I even love the Los Angeles Lakers. But somehow, I found a way to develop a soft spot for a backup big on the Memphis Grizzlies called Brandon Clarke. That is what happens when you spend time scrolling through League Pass feeds. You watch random games and become invested in teams for no reason at all. You find yourself rooting for the Grizzlies on a random night during the pandemic year. Turning into a fan of the unknown Clarke.
Goodbye Grizzly: An Ode To Brandon Clarke
I respected Brandon Clarke’s game because of his toughness. He made up for his height disadvantage against opponents four, five, or even six inches taller than him with pure determination. It is so sad that Brandon Clarke is dead. I am not someone who gets caught up in parasocial relationships, but this still feels surreal to think about.
The Kind of Player You Remember
I played basketball in uni as a tough-nosed guard who was always eager to make a play on defense. So something about Clarke’s game felt familiar to me. On NBA 2K, my brother and I would compete to trade for Clarke when we played multiple joint MyGM modes. He once swung a Bucks-Lakers NBA Finals for my brother with a pivotal Game 5 performance.
I never really forgave Taylor Jenkins for not using Brandon Clarke much during the 2021 series against Utah. Clarke proved me right some months later when he dropped 22 points in a win against them. The Grizzlies do not win that first-round series against Minnesota without him. Nothing anyone tells me will change my mind.
A Career Marked by Resilience
It is a pity that Clarke’s final years were spent mostly rehabbing various lower-leg injuries, including a cruel Achilles injury. To think that the last time we will ever see Brandon Clarke in the playoffs has already passed is gut-wrenching. Nothing in life is truly guaranteed.
This was a player who embraced the blue-collar nature of Memphis and tried his best to give back to the community. He understood the importance of education and did his best to encourage children to stay on that path. I always found it poetic that Brandon Clarke was born in Vancouver, the birthplace of the Memphis Grizzlies franchise itself. Poetic I know.
Rest in peace, Brandon Clarke.
Credit:© Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
