What Is Brandon Clarke’s Ethnicity? Exploring Grizzlies Star’s Family Roots, Nationality, and Religion

He’s strong, he’s big, he’s fast! Brandon Clarke is one of the NBA’s most exciting players. His size, strength, and athleticism make him a menace for opposition attackers and defenders alike. But you knew all that already, didn’t you? So today, let’s dig into some things about the Memphis Grizzlies star that we don’t know a lot about. Let’s start with where he comes from!

Where is Brandon Clarke from? What’s the Grizzlies star’s nationality?

Brandon Clarke may be making noise in Memphis these days. But his story started up north in Vancouver, British Columbia! And because of this, his connection to the Grizzlies actually runs deeper than just playing for them. It all began when his family took him to a game as a baby, back when they were the Vancouver Grizzlies.

“All I know is they took me to one of the games,” Clarke said. “It was a pretty big deal. It’s just cool to know I was there.”

By the time he was three, his family packed up and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Here basketball quickly became his world. He dominated at every level from San Jose State to Gonzaga.  And eventually, Clarke found himself in the  NBA. But owing to the life-changing move his family made when he was three, Clarke is now one of the few players in the NBA with dual citizenship. He is both a Canadian and an American national!

Clarke has the rare honor of playing for a franchise that once called his hometown home. For his mom, Whitney Triplett, watching her son suit up for the Grizzlies feels like something out of a movie.

“When Brandon was drafted and we found out he was going to the Grizzlies, we were going crazy, quite naturally,” she said. “He was 2 ½ years old when we left Vancouver and moved to the States. So, this is very special to us. It’s quite magical, actually.”

That connection became even more surreal when Memphis brought back their Vancouver throwback uniforms. As a baby, Clarke rocked a turquoise Grizzlies onesie. Fast forward to now, and he’s running the floor in the same colors. But this time he’s doing it in the world’s best basketball league.

What is Brandon Clarke’s ethnicity?

Clarke comes from a diverse background. His mother, Whitney Triplett, is Canadian. But his father? Well, he’s Jamaican and that’s pretty much all we know. And Brandon hasn’t spoken much about his Jamaican heritage either. But it’s clear that his diverse background and ethnic roots have shaped his life and the things that appeal to him.

You see, Clarke’s talents and interests aren’t limited solely to basketball. He’s also making waves in music, recording under the alias BCVS. Over the past couple of years, he’s dropped multiple projects. And he’s not doing all this by himself. Extending their partnership beyond the court, Brandon’s Grizzlies teammate, Jaren Jackson Jr., joins him in this endeavor. Jaren raps under the name, Trip J.

Unlike his explosive style on the court, Brandon’s approach to music is more laid-back. “The music is just me having fun and storytelling,” Clarke said. “I try not to take it too seriously, but it’s just fun to do.”

What is Brandon Clarke’s religion?

Clarke keeps his personal beliefs private, and there’s no public info on his religion. Like a lot of his peers, Brandon chooses not to openly discuss his faith. It’s a matter that he feels is best kept away from the public eye. And we can’t fault him for that, can we?

Now, we may not see Brandon Clarke again for the rest of the 2024/25 season. But we’re sure we’ll continue to learn new, fascinating things about the multicultural NBA star’s heritage in the years to come!