Two unexpected deaths shock the NBA

BarcelonaTwo unexpected deaths have shocked the NBA. The Memphis Grizzlies announced this Tuesday the death of Brandon Clarke, 29 years old and a player for this NBA franchise for seven years in the league, although they have not made the causes of death public. Furthermore, former player Jason Collins has passed away at the age of 47 due to brain cancer.

“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke. Brandon was an exceptional teammate and an even better person, whose impact on the organization and the great Memphis community will not be forgotten,” lamented the Memphis Grizzlies in a statement. “We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” they added.

The franchise has not provided further details on the death of the small forward, who in his first year in the league was selected for the All-Rookie First Team. “We are devastated by the news of Brandon Clarke's passing. Brandon was a bright light in our league, known for his incredible athleticism, competitive spirit, and genuine character. His loss leaves a profound void within the NBA family. We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the entire Memphis Grizzlies organization during this time of immense grief,” stated the league commissioner, Adam Silver, in another statement.

Selected with the 21st pick in the draft of 2019 by the Memphis Grizzlies, Clarke had developed his entire career in Memphis, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 309 games. Although he only started in 50 of these games, he stood out as an important player for his contribution off the bench. In total, he had played 309 games in the NBA over seven seasons. This past regular season, in which the Grizzlies finished with the sixth-worst record in the league, Clarke only played two games due to a severe calf injury he suffered in December.

In April, he was arrested in Arkansas on charges of possession and trafficking of controlled substances after having fled. He was found with 200 grams of kratom – a legal drug – during a chase in which he was driving at over 160 kilometers per hour.

Jason Collins, a pioneer

Jason Collins' family has issued a statement announcing his death: "It breaks our hearts to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother, and uncle, has passed away after a brave battle with glioblastoma. Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the exceptional care Jason received from his doctors and nurses.

Collins was the first NBA player to come out. Collins retired in 2014 after a 13-year career with the New Jersey Nets (2001-2008), the Memphis Grizzlies (2008), the Minnesota Timberwolves (2008-2009), the Atlanta Hawks (2209-2009) (2012-2013), the Washington Wizards (2013), and the Brooklyn Nets (2014).

Demand for better official records

A study with Catalan participation identified specific risks associated with height and ethnicity. The research confirms that the mortality of NBA basketball players is directly associated with their ethnicity and height. According to the research, players of African descent register a higher rate of cardiovascular mortality, specifically 69% more compared to players of European descent.

According to the researchers of the study, this is possibly a consequence of three main factors: genetic differences that predispose to more aggressive patterns of cardiac hypertrophy, historical inequalities in access to healthcare that persist once players have retired, and an inherited socioeconomic difference, as African American veterans from past decades earned less money, which also impacted their quality of life. In fact, by age 75, the cumulative incidence of death from cardiovascular diseases has been estimated at 15% for African Americans and 10% for those of European descent.

The research also shows that among NBA players there is a significant percentage of unknown causes of death, which indicates that it is a structural public health problem, and underscores the importance of specific cardiovascular monitoring for players of African descent, both during their careers and once retired. Although the study uses advanced statistical imputation, the research team requests better official records to advance research with social and institutional impact.

Precisely, one of the differentiating features of this study is that the cause of death of each NBA player has been researched manually. “This fact, unprecedented in sports research, is an example of real open science and the collaboration that can exist, for example, between scientists and data journalists,” explains Martí Casals.