NBA player Jaren Jackson Jr. is mourning the death of his former Memphis Grizzlies teammate, Brandon Clarke, who passed away Monday at age 29. Their close bond, forged over more than six seasons of practices, road trips, and shared meals with the Grizzlies, led Jackson to consider Clarke his “twin.”
Learning of Clarke’s death was particularly devastating for Jackson, now a big man for the Jazz. He expressed his profound grief in an Instagram post on Wednesday. “I couldn’t imagine a world where this was even a possibility. I love you forever brother, this is absolutely devastating. I just wish I could talk to you. You were so much to so many and even more to me,” Jackson wrote. “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. I truly lost my twin. I’m still going to be talking to you always. You will be forever loved and forever missed.”
Clarke, who joined the Grizzlies in the 2019-20 season—one year after Jackson’s debut—was discovered dead at a San Fernando Valley residence Monday night, NBC Los Angeles reported. Authorities are investigating his death as a potential overdose, having found drug paraphernalia at the California home. An autopsy will determine the official cause.
Clarke’s recent season with Memphis saw him appear in only two games due to injuries. This past year also marked a period of change for Jackson, who was traded from the Grizzlies to the Jazz as part of Memphis’ rebuilding efforts after a challenging season.
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