<>
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died from an accidental overdose of heroin and cocaine on May 11, 2026, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. The 29-year-old basketball player was found unresponsive inside a San Fernando Valley home, with investigators recovering drug paraphernalia at the scene.
Medical Examiner Findings and Toxicology Results
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner released its findings on August 7, 2026, ruling the 29-year-old basketball player’s death to be accidental.
In addition to the primary narcotics, the medical examiner’s office listed the combined effects of multiple prescription medications
as a significant contributing condition. Authorities indicated that a full autopsy report, which will specify the exact prescription drugs involved, will be available at a future date.
Emergency responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department were dispatched to a residence in the 20300 block of Del Campo Place in Woodland Hills just after 5 p.m. on May 11, 2026. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 5:15 p.m. after locating him unresponsive in a bedroom.
Basketball Career with the Memphis Grizzlies and Gonzaga
Clarke was selected in the 2019 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder before his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for the rights to Darius Bazley and a future second-round pick. He spent all seven of his professional seasons in Memphis, establishing himself as a high-energy forward and a key component of the team’s rotation.
He also earned MVP honors at the 2019 NBA Summer League, becoming the second non-American player to win the award.
Before turning professional, Clarke starred at Gonzaga University. Gonzaga coach Mark Few remembered him fondly, stating that He was just so easy to coach.
Every time you’d see him walking around the facility, he had a smile on his face.
Recent Injuries and Legal Encounters Prior to Passing
The final phase of Clarke’s career was disrupted by physical setbacks. After missing most of the 2023-24 campaign, he appeared in 64 games during the 2024-25 season. However, he played in only two games during the 2025-26 season, first sidelined by right knee surgery and subsequently hampered by a right calf strain sustained in December 2025. At the time of his death, he was under contract through the 2026-27 season on a four-year, $12.5 million annual extension signed in 2022.
Approximately six weeks prior to his death, Clarke encountered legal trouble in Arkansas. On April 1, 2026, he was arrested in Cross County following a vehicular pursuit in which deputies alleged he reached speeds exceeding 100 mph in his Corvette. Law enforcement charged him with felony counts of controlled substance trafficking, fleeing law enforcement, and possession, alongside misdemeanor counts for carrying a THC vape pen, improper passing, and speeding.
According to police reports, deputies discovered 235 grams of kratom—a plant-based extract that is classified as a felony narcotic in Arkansas but remained legal in Tennessee—inside a duffel bag in his vehicle. Clarke was released on bond the day after his arrest and was scheduled to appear for an arraignment at the St. Francis County District Court on May 15, 2026, a case that was subsequently dismissed following his passing.
Community Impact and Tributes from the NBA
In the wake of his death, memorials emerged outside the FedExForum in Memphis, while teammates, league executives, and local organizations honored his contributions on and off the court. In his final community appearance in September 2025, Clarke had donated $1,500 to ARISE2Read, a Memphis-based literacy nonprofit, visiting KIPP Collegiate K-8 School to support educational resources.
Dr. La Tonya Mouzon, executive director of ARISE2Read, noted that the nonprofit received over 90 donations in the days following his death, with teammate Ja Morant amplifying the fundraiser online. Tributes also poured in from across the basketball world, reflecting his tenure alongside Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. as a cornerstone of the Grizzlies franchise.
“Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.”
Memphis Grizzlies, Team Statement
