The NBA has lost two of its own within hours. Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in league history, lost his battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma, while 29-year-old Brandon Clarke, the Grizzlies forward whose toughness defined a Memphis era, died after a reported struggle with substance use. Both deaths occurred before Game 5 of the Spurs-Timberwolves series. And by the time the Inside the NBA crew took their seats, the grief was already written on their faces.

Charles Barkley immediately reflected on what Jason Collins represented to professional sports, especially considering the climate surrounding LGBTQ athletes back in 2013.

“When he came out, man, I thought it was amazing to put himself under the microscope and the scrutiny and the hatred and the vitriol that was going to happen,” Barkley said on TNT. “I hate the way this story ended because he was a shining example of ‘Do you, man.’ Anybody out there who’s struggling with their sexuality, do you. Gay people have the right to do what they want to do. It’s nobody else’s business at all.”

Barkley also pushed back against the idea that Collins’ announcement would somehow no longer matter in today’s society.

“In fairness now, if another guy did it, it would still be a big deal because we live in a homophobic society,” Barkley said. “Anybody who thinks we ain’t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid.”

The Hall of Famer has defended Collins publicly for years. Back in 2013, Barkley famously said anybody who believed they had never played alongside a gay athlete was “an idiot.” More than a decade later, his respect for Collins had clearly not changed.

Shortly after Collins publicly came out in 2013, TNT invited him onto Inside the NBA for an interview that ended up feeling remarkably normal. Barkley, Shaq, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson joked with him about basketball and golf rather than treating him like a spectacle.

That mattered. At a time when Collins’ announcement dominated national headlines, TNT’s approach helped normalize the conversation around openly gay athletes inside professional sports.

Shaquille O’Neal also spoke emotionally about Collins, whom he had known since Collins’ high school days in California.

“My condolences go out to the Collins family,” Shaq said. “We only live one lifetime, and you must always speak your truth. And he spoke his truth. I’m proud about that. But overall, he was a great human being.”

O’Neal’s comments echoed a larger theme throughout the night. Collins was remembered not only as a historic figure in sports, but as someone widely respected inside NBA circles for his kindness and honesty.

Shaq actually knew Jason and his twin brother, Jarron. They first crossed paths in high school and then in the NBA. Back in 2022, the Lakers faced the Nets, and Jason was tasked with a very important job: guarding Shaq. Well, in those days, nobody could stop the giant, let alone a rookie. Collins went on to make a witty statement after Big Diesel dropped 40, saying, “I need to gain about 100 pounds and increase my bench press about 200.” That matchup was the first of many learning experiences for him across his 13-year NBA career.

It was only back in December 2025 when Collins dropped a major health update of him undergoing treatment for Stage 4 glioblastoma. The former NBA player was candid with his fans, openly describing his condition as “one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.” Collins started facing symptoms in May that year when he and his wife were going to attend the US Open. They missed their flight because he couldn’t stay focused on packing. “According to my family, in hours, my mental clarity, short-term memory, and comprehension disappeared,” he told ESPN. A CT scan and a visit to the specialist confirmed the diagnosis.

“Because my tumor is unresectable, going solely with the ‘standard of care’ — radiation and TMZ — the average prognosis is only 11 to 14 months. If that’s all the time I have left, I’d rather spend it trying a course of treatment that might one day be a new standard of care for everyone,” Collins said about his targeted chemotherapy treatment in Singapore. And five months after his column on ESPN, the hoops fanbase received the tragic news of Collins’ death.

The NBA world was also hit with the news of Brandon Clarke’s death on the same day, and the TNT panel shared a few words in tribute to the Grizzlies star. Chuck’s pain was raw, with him saying, “I’m very sensitive on the drug situation, and man, you guys got to stay away from that stuff. I know that’s easier said than done. It ain’t a matter if, it’s just a matter when. If you out there experimenting with drugs, the story is going to end badly. It ain’t just about you, man. You got a family out there, and I don’t know the situation. He got a mom and dad, brothers and sister, but man, it’s a terrible loss.”

The LAFD responded to an emergency call a little after 5 p.m. on Monday. Clarke was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a spokesman. According to NBC Los Angeles, his death is currently being investigated as a possible overdose. He was scheduled to appear at an arraignment hearing at 9 a.m. Friday at the St. Francis County District Court in Forrest City, Ark., to face felony drug and traffic charges stemming from an April 1 arrest. He was charged with felony counts of trafficking of a controlled substance and fleeing law enforcement at high speeds, and misdemeanor counts of drug possession and traffic violations.

Clarke was only 29 years old and expected to play a major role in reviving the Grizzlies. His 2025-26 campaign was hit with lower-body injuries, limiting him to only two appearances. But Clarke played with toughness and heart, a trait that saw Memphis’ rampant rise. Barkley felt immense pain that substance use, something Clarke did struggle with, led to such extreme consequences. Soon after Clarke’s death, emotional tributes began pouring in.

Adam Silver and the Grizzlies stars’ emotional tribute to Brandon Clarke

Both losses deeply affected the league. Commissioner Adam Silver described feeling “devastated” after losing two members of the NBA family. The community came together to honor both Jason Collins and Brandon Clarke. In Clarke’s case, his sudden passing was especially difficult for his current and former teammates to accept. He was a strong locker room presence in Memphis. Ja Morant, a mercurial star, played fearless basketball with the power forward. He posted a series of pictures on his Instagram stories to celebrate Clarke. It “hurt” knowing he wouldn’t see his brother in the locker room again.

Jaren Jackson Jr. felt the same way. He wasn’t going to be teammates with Clarke, having been traded to the Jazz. However, JJJ connected with the Grizzlies forward. “I couldn’t imagine a world where this was even a possibility. I love you forever, brother. This is absolutely devastating. I just wish I could talk to you,” he wrote in an Instagram post. “I will never have the words to describe what this feels like.”

Losing Jason Collins and Brandon Clarke within the same 24-hour stretch left the basketball world grieving two vastly different lives connected by the same theme repeated throughout TNT’s tribute: humanity. Collins changed the league through honesty and courage. Clarke earned respect through kindness and quiet consistency. Inside the NBA captured both losses the same way the rest of the sport experienced them, with shock, sadness, and deep appreciation for the people they were away from basketball.