The NBA made a bit of history on Thursday by selecting Terrence Clarke as an honorary pick during the 2021 NBA Draft. The former Kentucky standout passed away a few months ago in a tragic vehicular accident that ended this young man's dream of playing in the NBA. League commissioner Adam Silver made sure to commemorate Clarke's memory during the draft night in what turned out to be an emotional moment.
There was not a dry eye in the room as commissioner Silver invited Clarke's family to the stage right in the middle of the draft ceremony:
The NBA paid a beautiful tribute to the beloved, Terrence Clarke ๐๐๐พ #NBADraft
(via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/Xs3Vb6ntP5
โ Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 30, 2021
It was truly a tear-jerking moment and players from around the league took to Twitter to share their reactions to the same. Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was one of the first to come out with a heartfelt reaction to the Terrence Clarke tribute:
๐๐ฝ
โ Ja Morant (@JaMorant) July 30, 2021
TC ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝ๐ค
โ Ja Morant (@JaMorant) July 30, 2021
Charlotte Hornets stud Miles Bridges also tweeted out about the emotional moment, and so did the likes of Eric Paschall, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Onyeka Okongwu, to name a few:
R.I.P. T Clarke ๐๐
โ Miles Bridges (@MilesBridges) July 30, 2021
โ Eric Paschall (@epaschall) July 30, 2021
The @NBA i respect yโall for that! His family will forever appreciate this moment ๐๐พ๐๐พ
โ R.HollisJefferson (@IAmCHAP24) July 30, 2021




This is so sad #TerrenceClarke ๐ค
โ Onyeka Okongwu (@BigO21_) July 30, 2021
Thatโs why we dream about and love the @NBA ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ๐๐ฟ#terrenceclarke
โ Thon Maker โข (@ThonMaker14) July 30, 2021
Fighting these tears back man, RIP TC5๐๐ Thank you @NBA
โ Nassir Little (@2ez_nassie) July 30, 2021
You made it! I know you up there smiling right now lil bro. Shoutout to the @NBA . Special moment! LLTC5๐๐๐พ
โ Jarred Vanderbilt (@JVando) July 30, 2021
#LLTC5 ๐๐พ๐ซ๐ค๐พ
โ Royce O'Neale (@BucketsONeale00) July 30, 2021
Terrence Clarke was just 19 when he was robbed of his future. It's an undeniably harsh and tragic fate this young and promising lad had to endure, and it only feels right that the league honored him on what would have been the culmination of all his hard work.
Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Clarke and the family he left behind.
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