Grizzlies' under-the-radar difference maker off the bench

The 2023-24 season was full of disappointments and sad moments for Memphis Grizzlies fans. Despite the sorrow, there was one moment when the entire fanbase - those in the FedExForum and those watching at home - applauded enthusiastically. Some may have even shed some tears of joy.

The moment happened on March 28, 2024, when big man Brandon Clarke entered the game after being out for an entire year. Clarke had suffered a torn left Achilles on March 3, 2023, during a loss to the Denver Nuggets.

As the FedExForum's P.A. announcer announced the entrance of Clarke to the game, the entire arena got up for a standing ovation.

"Welcome back - Brrrrrrrrandonnnnnnn Clarke!" the P.A.'s shout could barely be heard amid the crowd's cheers.

Fan favorite energizing team and arena

Clarke, who the Grizzlies selected with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft, has become a fan favorite in Memphis because he's a warrior who lays it all out on the court every moment he's out there.

One crucial stretch of playoffs basketball captured the Brandon Clarke experience. In the fourth quarter of Game 5 of the Grizzlies' first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022, Clarke took over in a way only he could.

He vacuumed seven offensive boards, keeping the cold-shooting Grizzlies in the game, and found creative ways to score without obstructing the offense.

While that intoxicating game is remembered mainly because of the head-to-head matchup between Ja Morant and Anthony Edwards—and Ja's buzzer-beater—it was also the game in which Grizzlies fans fell in love with Clarke.

Difference maker off the bench

The offseason buzz in Memphis has been mainly about Zach Edey, the Rookie of the Year candidate, and GG Jackson, the breakout young stud. The high-upside Santi Aldama and Scotty Pippen Jr. have also been making news in the Paris Olympics and the Las Vegas Summer League, respectively.

But the biggest difference maker off the Grizzlies bench could end up being the 6"8 Clarke, who had said ( upon his return from injury ) that it can take two years to recover fully from what he experienced. A year and a half have passed, and Clarke is healthy and ready to go.

Memphis' frontcourt has evolved, with veteran Steven Adams no longer around, replaced by the promising rookie Zach Edey. Each of the bigs on the 2024-25 Grizzlies - most importantly, All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. but also Edey and Aldama - fits well alongside Clarke due to Brandon's diverse set of skills.

If Clarke can indeed regain his form and become once again a dominant force on the boards, Memphis' frontcourt might be one of the best in the league.

Related: Mike Conley Jr. Dominates the Grizzlies' Records Book