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Brandon Clarke Cause of Death: What Did Coroner Find?
By Aurax Desk | August 8, 2026 | 2 min read
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has determined that former Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died from the effects of heroin and cocaine. The 29-year-old NBA player’s death in May was ruled accidental, ending months of uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of his death.
FedExForum in Memphis, where Brandon Clarke played his entire NBA career with the Grizzlies.
Clarke was found unresponsive in a bedroom at a home in the Los Angeles area on May 11 and was pronounced dead after emergency responders arrived. The medical examiner also identified the combined effects of multiple prescription medications as a significant contributing condition, although the specific medications were not disclosed. Authorities had previously reported that drug-related items were found at the residence, but the official cause and manner of death were not certified until Aug. 7.
Clarke spent his entire seven-season NBA career with the Grizzlies after entering the league as the 21st overall selection in the 2019 draft and playing college basketball at Gonzaga. He became a regular contributor in Memphis, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over 309 career games, but his later seasons were disrupted by significant injuries, including an Achilles injury that kept him out for more than a year. He was under contract with Memphis through the 2026-27 season when he died.
About six weeks before his death, Clarke had been arrested in Arkansas following a traffic stop and faced charges including speeding, reckless driving and possession of a controlled substance. The arrest and his subsequent death occurred while he was sidelined from the Grizzlies, adding to the circumstances surrounding the final months of his career. The medical examiner's determination now formally establishes the cause and manner of death as an accidental drug-related death.
Sources: ESPN, The Associated Press and PEOPLE, citing the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner and previously reported police and emergency-response information.