NBA forward Brandon Clarke’s death caused by heroin and cocaine
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Brandon Clarke was named in the NBA’s All-Rookie First Team in 2020
By Tasnim Chowdhury
BBC Sport journalist
- Published 8 August 2026
Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke’s death in May was caused by the “effects of heroin and cocaine”, Los Angeles authorities have revealed.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner ruled the death accidental.
The 29-year-old was found unresponsive in a bedroom at a house in the San Fernando Valley on 11 May 2026 and was pronounced dead by paramedics.
The medical examiner’s office also listed the “combined effects of multiple prescription medications” as a “significant” contributor to his death but did not specify which medications were involved.
The medical examiner added that the full report would be available at a later date.
The Canada-born player was a first-round draft pick in 2019 but played only two games in the 2025-26 season due to injuries.
Paying tribute at the time, the Grizzlies said they were “heartbroken” by the loss, adding he was an “outstanding team-mate and an even better person whose impact on the organisation and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten”.
Clarke played 309 NBA games, including 50 starts, and scored an average of 10.2 points per game.
A month prior to his death, Clarke was arrested in Arkansas on charges that included speeding and possession of a controlled substance.
Clarke was born in Vancouver and was a dual citizen of Canada and the USA.
After playing college basketball at San Jose State and then Gonzaga, he was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder and traded to the Grizzlies soon after.
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