The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has determined that Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died from the effects of heroin and cocaine.
Clarke was found unresponsive in a bedroom on May 11th and pronounced dead at the scene. He was 29.
The medical examiner formally certified his cause and manner of death on August 7th, nearly three months after his death. The manner was ruled an accident.
Earlier reports had described the circumstances as a possible overdose while toxicology and other testing remained pending. The finding provides the first official determination of what caused Clarke’s death.
The Medical Examiner Ruled Clarke’s Death an Accident
According to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner, Clarke’s cause of death was the effects of heroin and cocaine. His manner of death was classified as an accident.
The agency said Clarke was found unresponsive in his bedroom at approximately 5 p.m. on May 11th. Responding paramedics pronounced him dead at 5:15 p.m.
A deputy medical examiner examined Clarke the following day at the department’s Forensic Science Center. His cause and manner of death were formally certified on August 7th.
The Complete Medical Examiner Report Is Still Pending
The medical examiner’s public announcement did not provide concentrations of heroin, cocaine or other substances detected during toxicology testing. It also said the complete medical examiner report will be available at a later date. Reuters reported that the combined effects of multiple prescription medications were identified as a significant contributing condition.
Earlier reporting about Clarke’s death had described it as a possible overdose after drug paraphernalia was reportedly found at the residence. At that stage, however, authorities had not completed the testing required to determine what caused his death.
Clarke Spent His Entire NBA Career With Memphis
Clarke entered the NBA in 2019 after playing college basketball at San Jose State and Gonzaga. The Oklahoma City Thunder selected him with the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft before trading his rights to Memphis on draft night.
He remained with the Grizzlies for all seven of his NBA seasons and was still under contract through the 2026-27 season when he died. Clarke averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds across 309 regular-season games, including 50 starts. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting after the 2019-20 season.
His athleticism and efficiency made him a regular part of several Memphis playoff teams, but injuries significantly disrupted the later years of his career. Clarke tore his left Achilles tendon in March 2023 and missed more than a year before returning to the court. Knee and calf problems later limited him to only two appearances during the 2025-26 season.
The NBA Remembered Him as a ‘Beloved Teammate and Leader’
Following Clarke’s death, the NBA, Grizzlies and National Basketball Players Association released statements remembering his impact on teammates and the Memphis community. “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Brandon Clarke,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in the league’s official tribute.
Silver described Clarke as “a beloved teammate and leader who played the game with enormous passion and grit.” The Grizzlies said they were “heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” calling him “an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.”
The NBPA similarly remembered Clarke for the relationships he formed away from the court. “We will remember Brandon not only for the immense joy he brought to so many throughout his career, but for the genuine friendships he built far beyond basketball,” the players’ association said.