The Inside the NBA crew reacted to the deaths Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke and pioneering former Nets center Jason Collins on Wednesday, with co-host Charles Barkley urging young men to stay away from drugs.
While the 47-year-old Collins succumbed to a year-long battle with a brain tumor, the 29-year-old Clarke was found dead by a San Fernando Valley fire crew after a 911 medical emergency call. Clarke’s death is reportedly being investigated as a possible overdose and paramedics are said to have found drug paraphernalia.
Despite suspicion of a potential overdose, Clarke’s official cause of death has not been determined.
‘I’m very sensitive on the drug situation,’ said Barkley, whose younger brother battled cocaine addiction before suffering a fatal heart attack in 2009.
Barkley did not directly reference his brother, but the 63-year-old did offer some advice on the subject to younger generations.
‘You guys got to stay away from that stuff,’ he continued. ‘And I know that’s easier said than done.
The NBA is in mourning after the tragic deaths of Brandon Clarke (L) and Jason Collins (R)
Barkley framed drug use as a selfish decision: ‘It ain’t just about you… You got a family’
‘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.’
Barkley also framed drug use as a selfish decision.
‘It ain’t just about you, man,’ Barkley said. ‘You got a family out there and you know, I don’t know the situation. He got a mom and dad, a brothers and sister, but man, it’s a terrible loss for him and his family.
‘It just sucks,’ he concluded. ‘It was a tough day for the NBA.’
Many of Clarke’s teammates have reacted publicly to his death, including former Grizzlies forward Kyle Anderson, who wrote on Instagram: ‘I’m so f***ing hurt man… ‘[I] wish I coulda been there for u.’
Collins’ life was also discussed at length by the Inside the NBA team. He famously became the NBA’s first openly gay player in 2014 when he re-joined the Nets after coming out of the closet as a free agent a year earlier.
Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant reacted to the passing of his long-time friend on Instagram
Jason Kidd played with Collins and later coached the 7ft center with the Brooklyn Nets
Anchor Ernie Johnson described that decision as a ‘courageous move,’ leading co-hosts Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Barkley to agree.
Where they disagreed the current state of tolerance among fans versus the one Collins faced in 2014.
‘You say 13 years ago, “Well, what’s the big deal if somebody said that they’re, you know, openly gay? What’s the big deal?” Well, 13 years ago was a big deal,’ Smith said.
Paying lip service to a handful of other athletes who have come out in other sports, Barkley insisted the decision to do so remains difficult and important.
‘But Kenny, in fairness now, if another guy done did it, it would still be a big deal because we live in a homophobic society,’ Barkley said. ‘And that’s unfortunate.’
Barkley also rejected the idea that there are only a few gay athletes.
‘First of all, anybody who think we ain’t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid,’ Barkley said. ‘But there is such animosity toward the gay community and that’s what’s really unfortunate.’
Co-host Shaquille O’Neal also shared his condolences for the Collins family, whom he knew from his time with the Lakers.
‘I’ve been knowing [Jason Collins and his twin brother Jarron] for a long time when I was playing in LA,’ O’Neal said. ‘I used to see him in high school.
‘But we only live one lifetime,’ he continued. ‘And you must always speak your truth. And he spoke his truth and I have no problem with that.’
