Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died of an accidental overdose of heroin and cocaine, the L.A. County Medical Examiner ruled in a report released Friday.
The medical examiner also listed the “combined effects of multiple prescription medications” as a significant contributing factor in his death. A full autopsy report will be released at a later date and will include the names of those prescriptions, the medical examiner’s office said.
Clarke, a beloved teammate who spent his entire NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies, died May 11 at a residence in Southern California. The 29-year-old was found unresponsive in his bedroom, according to the coroner’s report.
Following his death, the Grizzlies said in a statement that they were “heartbroken by the tragic loss.” Clarke had struggled with injuries during the past three seasons, but when healthy he was one of the most impactful bench players in the NBA.
“Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten,” the team wrote.
Clarke played 309 games over seven seasons for Memphis, with the team reaching the playoffs four times. The Grizzlies said Clarke was expected to make a full recovery ahead of next season. He had a year remaining on his four-year contract worth $12.5 million annually.
Clarke was pronounced dead after the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to an emergency call at a residence in the 20300 block of Del Campo Place in Woodland Hills at just after 5 p.m. May 11. Paramedics pronounced him dead at 5:15 p.m.
His death came six weeks after he was charged in Arkansas with felony counts of trafficking of a controlled substance and fleeing law enforcement at speeds topping 100 mph. Deputies alleged that he had 235 grams of kratom, a controversial plant-based substance that is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in a duffel bag in his car at the time of his arrest April 1.
While kratom is considered a felony narcotic in Arkansas, it was legal in Tennessee, where Clarke owned a home, at the time of his arrest. The coroner’s report did not note the presence of kratom.
Clarke was also facing misdemeanor counts of drug possession for a THC vape pen he was carrying and for making unsafe lane changes and speeding. He was scheduled to appear at an arraignment May 15 at the St. Francis County District Court in Forrest City, Ark. Following his death, the case was dismissed.
Clarke was born in Vancouver, Canada, and raised in Phoenix. He was part of a Gonzaga team with former Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura that was one of the greatest in school history. Clarke is remembered not only for his NCAA Division I-leading 68.7 field-goal percentage, but for his warm, kind spirit.
He was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft.
“He was just so easy to coach,” said Mark Few, Clarke’s coach at Gonzaga. “Every time you’d see him walking around the facility, he had a smile on his face.”
