NBA Mourns the Loss of Jason Collins and Brandon Clarke

May 13, 2026, 22:55
AsiaSports

Introduction

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has confirmed the deaths of former player Jason Collins and current forward Brandon Clarke.

Main Body

Jason Collins, 47, passed away from stage 4 glioblastoma after fighting the disease for eight months. A 2001 first-round draft pick from Stanford University, Collins played for thirteen seasons with six different teams, including the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets. He is best remembered for coming out as gay in 2013 through Sports Illustrated, which made him the first active male athlete in a major North American professional league to do so. This brave action earned him support from teammates and high-ranking politicians. After retiring, he served as an NBA Cares Ambassador and received the Bill Walton Global Champion Award. He is survived by his husband, Brunson Green, and his twin brother, Jarron Collins. At the same time, the Memphis Grizzlies announced that 29-year-old forward Brandon Clarke died on May 11 in Los Angeles. Although the medical examiner has not yet confirmed the official cause of death, police are investigating a possible overdose because drug equipment was found at his home. Clarke, who joined the league in 2019 from Gonzaga University, played his entire career with the Grizzlies. He was well-known for his strong defense and his charity work, specifically through the Brandon Clarke Foundation, which supports reading programs like ARISE2Read. Recently, the San Antonio Spurs held a moment of silence to honor both players during a game.

Conclusion

The NBA community is currently mourning the loss of both athletes, while official investigations into Brandon Clarke's death continue.

Learning

⚡ The "Who" Bridge: From Simple Sentences to B2 Relative Clauses

At an A2 level, you usually write short, choppy sentences: "Jason Collins was a player. He came out as gay in 2013." To reach B2, you need to 'glue' these ideas together using Relative Clauses.

🔍 The Magic of "Who"

Look at this sentence from the text:

"Clarke, who joined the league in 2019 from Gonzaga University, played his entire career with the Grizzlies."

Instead of two boring sentences, the author uses ", who... ," to add extra information about Clarke without stopping the flow of the story. This is called a non-defining relative clause.

🛠️ How to Build It

  1. Identify the person: Jason Collins
  2. Add a comma: Jason Collins,
  3. Insert the 'Who' detail: who was a brave athlete,
  4. Finish the main action: earned support from teammates.

Result: "Jason Collins, who was a brave athlete, earned support from teammates."

🚀 Level Up Your Vocabulary

To sound more B2, replace basic verbs with these professional alternatives found in the text:

  • ❌ Died →\rightarrow ✅ Passed away (More polite/formal)
  • ❌ Known for →\rightarrow ✅ Best remembered for (More descriptive)
  • ❌ Is left by →\rightarrow ✅ Is survived by (Specific term for funerals/obituaries)

💡 Pro Tip for B2 Fluency

When you describe a person in an essay or a conversation, don't just say their name and a fact. Use the [Name] + , who + [Detail] + , [Action] formula. It instantly makes you sound more sophisticated and academic.

Vocabulary Learning

confirmed (v.)
to state or prove that something is true or factual
Example:The NBA confirmed the deaths of the former player and the current forward.
deaths (n.)
the state of being dead; the event of dying
Example:The article reported the deaths of two athletes.
fighting (v.)
to battle or struggle against something
Example:He was fighting the disease for eight months.
glioblastoma (n.)
a fast‑growing, aggressive type of brain cancer
Example:She was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a severe brain tumor.
draft (n.)
a selection process where teams choose new players
Example:Collins was a first‑round draft pick from Stanford.
seasons (n.)
periods of time in which a sport is played; years of participation
Example:He played for thirteen seasons.
remembered (v.)
to keep in memory; to recall
Example:He is best remembered for coming out as gay.
action (n.)
something done; an act
Example:His brave action earned him support.
earned (v.)
to receive something as a result of effort
Example:He earned the Global Champion Award.
support (n.)
help or encouragement given to someone
Example:He received support from teammates and politicians.
high-ranking (adj.)
having a high position or level of authority
Example:He received support from high‑ranking politicians.
retiring (v.)
stopping work or leaving a position after a career
Example:After retiring, he served as an ambassador.
ambassador (n.)
a representative or spokesperson for an organization
Example:He served as an NBA Cares Ambassador.
survived (v.)
to continue to live after a difficult event
Example:He is survived by his husband and brother.
well-known (adj.)
famous or widely recognized
Example:He was well‑known for his strong defense.