Basketball: NBA mourns deaths of Jason Collins and Brandon Clarke

“Jason changed the lives of many people in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” his family wrote of Collins. He made his illness public last November. He then underwent experimental therapy in Singapore, which brought short-term improvement. But the cancer returned.

Collins played in the NBA between 2001 and 2014. He began his career with the then New Jersey Nets and returned to the team at the end of his career when it had already moved to the Brooklyn district of New York.
NBA CEO Adam Silver said Collins’ “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball, as he helped make the NBA, the WNBA and the sports world as a whole more inclusive and open for future generations.”

Brandon Clarke came to the NBA in 2019 and played exclusively for the Memphis Grizzlies. In his debut season he was recognized as one of the best newcomers to the league, but in the current season he only played in two games due to injury. “We are deeply devastated by the passing of Brandon Clarke. As one of the Grizzlies’ longest-serving members, Brandon was a beloved teammate and leader who played with tremendous passion and determination,” said NBA boss Adam Silver.

As the Los Angeles police confirmed to ABC News, there are indications of a possible drug overdose. Narcotics were found on his body and there was no evidence of a crime.