Teammates are mourning the loss of two cherished NBA players, Brandon Clarke and Jason Collins, by expressing heartfelt tributes.
The Memphis Grizzlies have confirmed the unexpected death of Brandon Clarke at the age of 29. Although the cause of death remains unconfirmed, NBC4 in Los Angeles has reported that authorities are investigating the possibility of an overdose. Clarke, originally from Canada and a former star at Gonzaga University, was discovered in the San Fernando Valley after emergency responders were called to a medical incident shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday.
Jason Collins passed away on Tuesday following his battle with a brain tumor. At 47, Collins was known for being the first openly gay player in the NBA when he signed with the Nets in 2014, a year after publicly coming out as a free agent.
“This hurt,” shared Memphis Grizzlies player Ja Morant on Instagram, remembering his long-time teammate Clarke. “Love you broski. Gone way too soon.”
NBA icon and current Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd expressed his sorrow on X, stating, “This one hurts.”
Kidd was a teammate of Collins with the New Jersey Nets before later coaching him in Brooklyn in 2014.
The NBA is in mourning after the tragic deaths of Brandon Clarke (L) and Jason Collins (R)
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant reacted to the passing of his long-time friend on Instagram
Jason Kidd played with Collins and later coached the 7ft center with the Brooklyn Nets
Clarke, who passed away Monday, is pictured with his long-time teammate, Morant
Kidd is pictured coaching Collins in Brooklyn, where the center ended his career in 2014
‘Jason Collins was a pioneer,’ Kidd continued. ‘He had courage like you’ve never seen. He was an incredible teammate. And having him in Brooklyn at the start of my coaching journey meant so much.
‘Those who knew him were blessed to call him a friend. You are already missed my brother. Rest in power.’
The NBA held a moment of silence for both players before Tuesday’s Western Conference semifinal matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs.
‘Brandon Clarke, a beloved member of the Memphis Grizzlies since 2019, whose leadership and passion earned him respect throughout the Memphis community and around the league, passed away at 29,’ the PA announcer in San Antonio told the crowd before the Spurs’ Game 5 win.
‘And 13-year NBA player and NBA Cares ambassador Jason Collins died after a long battle with brain cancer.
‘He broke barriers that will positively impact the sports world for generations to come, and he’ll always be remembered for his bravery and kindness.’
But it was the voices of their teammates that carried the most weight on a tragic day across the NBA and basketball world. ‘Rip brother,’ Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. wrote on social medial. ‘You will be missed. Gone too soon.’
The NBA held a moment of silence for both players before Tuesday’s Western Conference semifinal matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs
Killian Tillie, one of Clarke’s teammates at Gonzaga, reacted to the news on Instagram
Kyle Anderson (right), a former teammate of Clarke’s (center), also reacted online
Clarke is seen alongside his mother, Whitney, and stepfather after graduating from Gonzaga
The Grizzlies player is pictured during his childhood with his mother, Whitney Triplett
‘I’m so f***ing hurt man,’ Clarke’s former Grizzlies teammate Kyle Anderson wrote, adding ‘[I] wish I coulda been there for u.’
Current Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells made a cryptic reference to some of the obstacles Clarke faced in Memphis, where he suffered a number of serious injuries.
‘Everything [he] went through in the time I’ve been in Memphis he still came in with a smile on his face and was a light in the locker room, truly an inspiring person,’ Wells wrote. ‘Memphis won’t be the same without you.’
And it wasn’t just NBA teammates honoring Clarke. His former Gonzaga running mates Killian Tillie, Joel Ayayi and Matthew Lang also reacted on social media.
‘One of the greatest Zags and Grizzly, it was an honor to share the court with you,’ Tillie wrote.
Clarke’s death comes one month after he was arrested in Arkansas on charges including speeding and trafficking a controlled substance.
The Cross County Sheriff’s Department booked him into jail on April 1 for improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance.
Clarke, who was selected by Oklahoma City with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, died just four months before his 30th birthday.
Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player, passed away after a battle with a brain tumor
As was the case with Clarke, Collins’ death has been met with an outpouring of grief from the basketball world and beyond.
‘Jason was one of the strongest and kindest [people] I have ever meet,’ former NBA power forward and Collins’ Stanford teammate Mark Madsen wrote on X. ‘He was ferocious on the court and full of love and kindness off the court. He welcomed everyone no matter your background. He was the guy who brought fun and energy to life.’
The Nets, for whom Collins played eight productive seasons, issued their own heartfelt statement.
‘We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Jason Collins,’ read a team statement from the Nets. ‘Jason spent eight seasons in a Nets uniform, helping define an era of our franchise and playing a vital role on our back-to-back Eastern Conference championship teams in 2002 and 2003.
‘He was a constant in our locker room — selfless, tough, and deeply respected by teammates, coaches, and staff alike.
‘Those who were around Jason every day knew him not just as a competitor, but as a genuinely kind, thoughtful person who brought people together. His impact extended far beyond the court, and his courage and authenticity helped move the game — and the world — forward.’
And it wasn’t just the NBA reacting to Collins’ passing. Another LGBTQ+ icon, tennis great Billie Jean King, also discussed her relationship with Collins, who worked with her foundation.
Billie Jean King and Collins worked together through her foundation
‘We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, a founding advisory board member for the @BJK_Foundation, and our dear friend,’ she wrote on X.
‘Jason changed lives through his courage, authenticity, and commitment to helping others feel seen.
‘His legacy extends far beyond basketball. He helped move sports and society forward with strength. We share our heartfelt condolences with his loved ones and all who were impacted by his life and leadership.’
Although he remained closeted for much of his career, Collins revealed he was gay to Sports Illustrated in May of 2013 as he languished on the free-agent market.
The following season, Kidd recruited him to Brooklyn, where the retired point guard was coaching the newly relocated team.
On February 23, 2014, Collins signed a 10-day contract with the team and in doing so, became the league’s first openly gay player. He remained with the Nets for the rest of the season before retiring the following November.
Collins’ No 98 jersey became one of the league’s hottest items in 2014. He later revealed he chose the number to honor Matthew Shepard, the gay college student who was was beaten, tortured, and left to die near Laramie, Wyoming in 1998.
Although some accused the team of signing Collins to attract liberal fans in Brooklyn, the Nets’ front office insisted the move was a ‘basketball decision,’ and his teammates and coaches quickly agreed.
Collins’ No 98 jersey became one of NBA’s top sellers during the 2013-14 season
He became the NBA’s first openly gay player when he came out in 2013 in an open letter
‘Toughness, rebounding the ball, being professional,’ Kidd said of Collins at the time. ‘He brings a lot to the table for us.’
He also became symbol for gay sports fans, many of whom felt under represented by the leagues they follow.
Jared Max, a gay New York-area sports radio personality, told The Wall Street Journal at the time the signing was a turning point in the industry.
‘There aren’t just cracks in the dam,’ Max said. ‘There are places where water is flowing right through.’
By the time Collins retired from basketball in 2014, he was in a vastly different place. Not only was he in a relationship with Brunson Green, whom he later marry, but Collins had taken on a new roll as an LGBTQ+ role model and supporter.
‘I’ll continue to encourage others to live an authentic life,’ he wrote in his retirement statement. ‘My hope is that everyone achieves that day when you step forward and reveal your truth on your own terms.’
Then Collins’ life took a tragic turn last year. As Collins revealed in a December essay for ESPN.com , he had been battling glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor often seen as a death sentence for patients.
He and Green first noticed his symptoms shortly after their wedding in May of 2025.
‘In May I married the love of my life, Brunson Green, at a ceremony in Austin, Texas, that couldn’t have been more perfect,’ he wrote. ‘In August, we were supposed to go to the US Open, just as every year, but when the car came to take us to the airport, I was nowhere near ready. And for the first time in decades, we missed the flight because I couldn’t stay focused to pack.
‘I had been having weird symptoms like this for a week or two, but unless something is really wrong, I’m going to push through. I’m an athlete.’
Collins is seen at his wedding to Brunson Green. In the background is Jason’s twin, Jarron
This prompted Collins to get a CT scan at UCLA, which led to the discovery of his cancer.
His life changed irreparably. As he wrote on ESPN.com, the first things to go were Collins’ short-term memory and mental clarity. And although prescription drugs would help to clear his brain fog, the cancer treatments were ultimately unsuccessful.
‘Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,’ NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
‘He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador. Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others.
‘On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues.’
