The sudden and tragic passing of Brandon Clarke has sent shockwaves through the basketball world, but few have felt the loss as deeply as his former Memphis Grizzlies teammate Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jackson, now with the Utah Jazz, took to Instagram to share a raw and emotional tribute to Clarke, who died Monday in Los Angeles at age 29. The two spent years together on the court in Memphis, but Jackson made it clear their bond went far beyond basketball.
“I couldn’t imagine a world where this was even a possibility,” Jackson wrote. “I love you forever brothers, this is absolutely devastating. I just wish I could talk to you.”
He continued: “You were so much to so many and even more to me. I will never have the words to describe what this feels like. I still can’t believe this. To your family and friends and everyone you were always a light and you were always so genuine and real and our friendship went far beyond anything on the court.”
Jackson ended his post with a poignant line that captured the depth of their connection: “I truly lost my twin. I’m going to be talking to you always. You will be forever loved and forever missed.”
The two were teammates from Clarke’s arrival in Memphis in 2019 until Jackson’s trade to Utah in February. They played hundreds of games together, forming a tight bond that Jackson says transcended the game.
Clarke, a Gonzaga standout and All-American, was selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder before being traded to the Grizzlies. Over seven seasons, he averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while providing a steady presence off the bench.
His cause of death is still under investigation, with early reports indicating a possible overdose. The basketball community has rallied around his memory, with Ja Morant's heartbreaking tribute and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's honors underscoring the impact Clarke had on everyone who knew him.
The Grizzlies organization has also expressed its grief, remembering Clarke not just as a player but as a person who brought light to every room.
For Jackson, the loss is deeply personal. His tribute speaks to a friendship that will endure beyond the tragedy, a bond that no amount of time or distance could break.
