Brandon Clarke's devastated fiancée has paid a heartbreaking tribute to the late NBA star following his shock death at the age of 29. Clarke was found dead inside a home in the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County, on Monday after fire crews responded to a 911 call of a medical emergency shortly after 5pm local time.
Paramedics are said to have declared him dead upon arrival at the scene, with drug paraphernalia found in the home. Los Angeles outlet NBC4 reported on Tuesday that his passing is being investigated as a possible overdose.
Almost a week on from his tragic death, Clarke's fiancée, Amber Suchomel, has broken her silence in an emotional post on Instagram. Amber shared a series of loved-up photos and videos of her and Brandon together, as well as an old note from the basketball player asking her to be his girlfriend, which read: 'Amber... I love you with all my heart, as I have for years. As I will forever. I know you basically have been... but will you PLEASE BE MY GIRLFRIEND? Your love Brandon'.
She also included footage of the moment he got down on one knee and proposed while on a romantic boat trip in September of last year.
Heartfelt Words
'There are no words to describe this feeling,' Amber wrote at the start of the caption. 'I never thought I’d have to live life without you. I’m not really sure how to do this without you by my side.'
Clarke's fiancée described him as 'the most special person, with the biggest heart' and someone who 'made an impact on so many people, but most of all me.'
'I have never felt so loved and cared for, you made me feel like the most special girl in the world,' she continued. 'You were always so impressive to me, everything you were passionate about, you were elite at. You were a man of many talents, from gaming to writing & making music to flying to the hoop with ease, you were a natural born talent that put your all into the things and people you loved.'
Amber further described Clarke as 'one of the most giving and selfless people' who made people around him feel 'loved and taken care of'.
She added: 'I miss your silly jokes and childlike wonder. I miss your laugh and the way you made me laugh. I miss your big arms wrapped around me. I miss waking up to you by my side. I miss watching Harry Potter together with our favorite snacks. I miss the way you’d look at me. I miss how happy you’d get when I made your favorite breakfast and you’d scarf it down and ask for seconds. I miss our deep talks & talks about our future plans. I miss seeing you be so happy with our cats. We miss you so so much.'
'This world isn’t the same without you. You were everything to me and more. The day you proposed was the happiest day of my life, knowing I was gonna spend the rest of my life with my soulmate. We were supposed to be married soon and eventually start a family and live on land with a bunch of animals and a garden.'
'All I want is to hug you and kiss you and to hold you in my arms. I don’t know how to process that you aren’t here anymore. I love you always Brandon, forever and always'.
Amber concluded the post by saying: 'please keep watching over me, I need you.'
Background and Investigation
Clarke, who was selected by Memphis with the 25th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft, died just four months before his 30th birthday. His passing also came 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. Injuries had limited the 6ft 8in Grizzlies forward to only two games this season in a frustrating year, with Memphis recently ruling him out for the rest of this season.
Clarke was in his seventh season out of Gonzaga. He missed 73 games after originally sitting out 26 matches while recovering from surgery on his right knee and the last 46 with a right calf strain.
Earlier this week Clarke's body was cleared for release to his family following his sudden death. But what killed him remains unclear after the cause of death was 'deferred' by the Los Angeles medical examiner. According to TMZ, more testing will follow as the authorities probe his death.
