The Los Angeles County coroner ruled Friday that Brandon Clarke, Memphis Grizzlies forward, died accidentally on May 11 from the effects of heroin and cocaine. He was 29 years old.
Clarke was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles residence that afternoon. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 5:15 p.m. A deputy medical examiner examined the body on May 12, with the full report officially certified on August 7 by the LA County Medical Examiner’s office.
The coroner also noted that Clarke had been taking multiple prescription medicines at the time of his death – listed as a “significant condition” in the findings. The manner of death was ruled accidental.
A career defined by promise and injury
Clarke entered the league as the 21st overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, selected by Oklahoma City and immediately traded to Memphis. He made an instant impression: Summer League MVP in 2019, then NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020 after averaging 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in his debut season.
Over seven seasons, he played 309 games for the Grizzlies and averaged 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists. In October 2022, he signed a four-year extension worth $52 million. Then a torn Achilles in March 2023 changed everything. He managed only six games the following season and appeared just twice in 2025-26 due to ongoing knee and calf problems.
Before Memphis, Clarke built his college reputation at San Jose State and Gonzaga. He earned third-team All-American honors with the Bulldogs in 2018-19 as they advanced to the Elite Eight. A versatile big at 6-foot-8 and 215 pounds, he could guard multiple positions and finish around the rim with a soft touch that set him apart from most bigs of his generation.
The Grizzlies’ reaction
When news of his passing broke on May 12, the Memphis Grizzlies called Clarke “an outstanding teammate and even better person.”
The coroner’s ruling, issued nearly three months after his death, confirms what early reports from the Los Angeles Police Department had flagged: that drug use was a factor. The case number is 2026-07644 in the LA County Medical Examiner’s database.
Born on September 19, 1996, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Clarke was one of several Canadian players who carved a path through US college basketball into the NBA. His family has not issued a public statement following Friday’s coroner report.
Seven years, 309 games, flashes of genuine impact – and a career ended too soon by injury and loss. The NBA mourns him at 29.
Sources: LA County Medical Examiner – ESPN – UPI
