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Grizzlies Pay Tribute to Brandon Clarke, Who Died at 29, in Season Opener as Ex-Teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. Braces for Emotional Night

The upcoming 2026-27 campaign is more than make-or-break for the Memphis Grizzlies, who carry the emotional void of Brandon Clarke. While teammates miss his presence in the locker room, the organization and the fanbase rallied together to celebrate his memory.…

By Caroline John · Essentially Sports

Published: Thursday, 22 October 2026 at 2:29 AM

Key Things to Know

The Memphis Grizzlies honored the late Brandon Clarke with a pregame tribute ahead of their season opener.
Former teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. returned to FedExForum with the Utah Jazz for the emotional matchup.
Grizzlies players will wear a commemorative patch with Clarke's initials on their jerseys throughout the season.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The Memphis Grizzlies honored the late Brandon Clarke with an emotional pregame ceremony ahead of their season opener against the Utah Jazz at FedExForum on Wednesday. Clarke passed away in May at age 29, and the franchise held a moment of silence and presented a tribute video. Former teammate and close friend Jaren Jackson Jr., who was traded to Utah in February, returned to Memphis as an opponent for the tribute.

Memphis will wear jersey patches featuring Clarke's initials throughout the 2026-27 season and plans to continue his community outreach programs. Teammates Cam Spencer and Scotty Pippen Jr. expressed their commitment to playing in his memory, celebrating Clarke's seven-season legacy with the franchise.

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