The Memphis Grizzlies will not pay the final season of Brandon Clarke’s contract to his estate following the forward’s death earlier this year.
Clarke had one year and $12.5 million remaining on the four-year, $50 million extension he signed with Memphis in October 2022. According to Front Office Sports, his contract was formally terminated on July 3, roughly seven weeks after his death, and the remaining salary will not count against the Grizzlies’ salary cap.
Multiple sources told Front Office Sports that Clarke’s contract did not include protection guaranteeing his salary in the event of death. Because of that provision, or, more precisely, the absence of one, his estate will not receive the $12.5 million he would have earned during the 2026-27 season.
Clarke did, however, earn his full $12.5 million salary for the 2025-26 season. Those payments are continuing according to the schedule established in his contract and are expected to be completed in October, with the remaining installments going to his estate.
The situation illustrates an unusual and rarely discussed aspect of NBA contracts. Death protection is not automatically included in every player agreement. NBA contracts can contain additional protections covering circumstances such as death or permanent disability, but those terms depend on the specific contract. There is no league-wide rule requiring the unpaid years of every contract to be paid to a player’s estate after his death.
Clarke also carried a life insurance policy, according to the report. The value and specific terms of that policy have not been disclosed, and it remains unclear whether the circumstances surrounding his death could affect any eventual insurance payout.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled Clarke’s May 11 death an accident earlier this month. The 29-year-old died from the combined effects of heroin and cocaine, with the combined effects of multiple prescription medications listed as another significant condition.
Clarke spent his entire seven-year NBA career with Memphis after being selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft and immediately traded from Oklahoma City to the Grizzlies. He appeared in 309 regular-season games and averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. Injuries, including a torn Achilles in 2023 and subsequent knee and calf problems, limited him to only two appearances during the 2025-26 season.
