Brandon Clarke
A high-flying forward whose explosive athleticism and efficient scoring made him an instant fan favorite and a key piece of the Grizzlies' core.
Born 1996 (age 30)·Canadian basketball player·Birthday: September 19·Millennials
Biography
Brandon Clarke was born in Vancouver and honed his game at San Jose State before transferring to Gonzaga, where he became a defensive anchor. His vertical explosiveness and soft touch around the rim defied traditional positional labels. The Memphis Grizzlies drafted him in 2019, and he immediately injected energy as a sixth-man sparkplug, delivering highlight-reel blocks and dunks. Injuries have posed challenges, but Clarke's intelligent cutting and elite finishing percentage made him an indispensable, culture-setting player for a young and ambitious franchise.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Brandon was born in 1996, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brandon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1996
#1 Movie
Independence Day
Best Picture
The English Patient
#1 TV Show
ER
Brandon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1996Born
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2001Started school
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2009Became a teenager
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Could drive
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2014Could vote
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Turned 21
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Turned 30
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020 after a standout debut season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Recorded a player efficiency rating (PER) of 23.3 in his rookie year, one of the highest ever for a first-year player.
- Helped lead the Gonzaga Bulldogs to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament in 2019 as a key transfer player.
- Shot over 60% from the field in his first three NBA seasons, showcasing remarkable scoring efficiency.
Did You Know?
He holds dual citizenship in Canada and the United States.
He played his final college season at Gonzaga as a graduate transfer after beginning at San Jose State.
In high school, he was more heavily recruited for volleyball than basketball before his growth spurt.
He is known for having an unusually long wingspan relative to his height.
“I built my game on blocking shots and finishing plays nobody else can.”
