Brandon Clarke Bio
Brandon Clarke (born September 19, 1996) is a Canadian-American professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighing around 215 pounds, he plays as a forward and is known for his interior scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking ability. After a standout college career split between San Jose State and Gonzaga, he was selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Clarke earned NBA All-Rookie First Team honors in 2020 and has since become a reliable contributor for the Grizzlies across multiple playoff runs. In October 2022, he signed a four-year, $52 million contract extension that runs through the 2025–26 season. He holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States and has expressed interest in representing Canada in international competition.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Clarke was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to a Canadian mother and a Jamaican father. When he was three years old, his family relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where he spent the rest of his childhood. Growing up in the Phoenix area introduced him to a wide range of athletic influences and helped shape his early love of basketball.
He attended Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, where he developed into a prominent frontcourt prospect. After leading Desert Vista to the Division I championship game in 2015, Clarke was recognized as an All-Arizona Division I honoree by the Arizona Republic. His performance at Desert Vista established him as a priority recruit and paved the way for his college opportunity.
Path to Basketball
Coming out of high school, Clarke joined the San Jose State Spartans, where he spent his first two collegiate seasons. As a freshman in 2015–16, he averaged 10.1 points and 7.3 rebounds in conference play and was named Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year. The following season, he elevated his production to 17.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 2.3 assists, earning First-Team All-Mountain West and Mountain West All-Defensive Team honors.
Following his sophomore year, Clarke transferred to Gonzaga, where he redshirted the 2017–18 season to develop further. In his only active season with the Bulldogs, he became one of the most dominant players in the West Coast Conference, sweeping the league’s Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards. He was also named a Third-Team All-American by The Sporting News, cementing his status as a first-round NBA prospect.
Brandon Clarke Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Clarke began his organized career at Desert Vista High School before spending two seasons at San Jose State, where he quickly emerged as one of the Mountain West Conference’s most productive big men. His defensive instincts and rebounding set the tone, and he became a focal point of the Spartans’ frontcourt rotation by his second year.
His transfer to Gonzaga elevated his national profile. During the 2018–19 season, he helped lead the Bulldogs on a deep NCAA Tournament run, highlighted by a 36-point, eight-rebound, five-block performance in an 83–71 win over Baylor. That outing placed him in elite company, as he became only the third player in NCAA Tournament history to record 35 or more points with five or more blocks in a single game.
Memphis Grizzlies (2019–Present)
Clarke was selected 21st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2019 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He made his NBA debut on October 23, 2019, against the Miami Heat, finishing with eight points, seven rebounds, an assist, and a block. He was later named the MVP of the 2019 NBA Summer League after posting four double-doubles and leading the Grizzlies to the championship, becoming the first player in league history to win both regular and championship MVP honors.
On September 15, 2020, Clarke was named to the 2019–20 NBA All-Rookie First Team. He continued to grow as a rotation piece, helping Memphis reach the playoffs in 2021 and 2022. During the 2022 first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he posted a playoff career-high 21 points and 15 rebounds in a Game 5 win, then followed it with 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks in the closeout Game 6 victory.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Clarke’s early NBA tenure came on March 3, 2023, when he suffered a torn left Achilles tendon against the Denver Nuggets, ending his 2022–23 season. After recovery, he returned for the 2024–25 campaign, appearing in 64 games and averaging 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists. His season was cut short on March 22, 2025, when a high-grade PCL sprain in his right knee ruled him out for the remainder of the year.
Brandon Clarke Career Wins
Brandon Clarke’s career has been defined by steady team success and individual recognition rather than a high volume of championships. His most prominent titles include the 2019 NBA Summer League championship and MVP award, along with multiple conference honors during his college career. At the NBA level, he helped Memphis qualify for the playoffs in 2021 and 2022, contributing key performances in the 2022 first-round series against Minnesota.
NBA and Summer League Highlights
Clarke was named to the 2019–20 NBA All-Rookie First Team after a productive debut season with the Grizzlies. He also won the 2019 NBA Summer League MVP and championship game MVP, becoming the first player in Summer League history to capture both awards. In the 2022 NBA Playoffs, he recorded a playoff career-high 21 points and 15 rebounds against the Timberwolves.
Other Awards and Performances
At the college level, Clarke was named Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year in 2016 and First-Team All-Mountain West in 2017. During his lone season at Gonzaga, he swept the West Coast Conference Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, becoming the first player in WCC history to win both honors in the same season. He was also recognized as a Third-Team All-American by The Sporting News in 2019.
Brandon Clarke Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brandon Clarke was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and raised primarily in Phoenix, Arizona, after his family relocated when he was three years old. His mother is Canadian and his father is Jamaican, and Clarke holds dual citizenship in both Canada and the United States. His multicultural upbringing shaped his identity as a Canadian-American athlete.
Personal Life
Clarke is known to keep his personal life largely private. He is active on social media, where fans can follow his basketball journey. He has expressed interest in representing Canada in international basketball competition, reflecting pride in his Canadian roots.
2025 Season Performance
Brandon Clarke entered the 2024–25 NBA season looking to build on his recovery from a torn left Achilles tendon that had ended his previous campaign. He appeared in 64 games, including 18 starts, while averaging 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. His consistency off the bench remained a valuable part of Memphis’s rotation.
His season was unfortunately interrupted on March 22, 2025, when he was diagnosed with a high-grade PCL sprain in his right knee, ruling him out for the remainder of the year. The injury marked a second consecutive season ended prematurely by a major lower-body issue, raising questions about his long-term durability.
Looking ahead, Clarke remains under contract with the Grizzlies through the 2025–26 season after signing a four-year, $52 million extension in October 2022. Once healthy, he is expected to continue serving as a versatile frontcourt contributor for Memphis, with his perimeter shooting, rim protection, and energy plays all central to the team’s depth.