Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke had struggled with drug use before his death and had previously undergone multiple attempts at rehabilitation, according to details contained in the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s report.
Clarke died on May 11 at the age of 29 after being found unresponsive in a bedroom at a residence in California’s San Fernando Valley. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene shortly after 5 p.m. The medical examiner ultimately ruled his death accidental and determined that the primary cause was the effects of heroin and cocaine.
The fuller autopsy report, released this week, provided additional context surrounding Clarke’s death. According to reporting based on the examiner’s findings, Clarke’s roommate told investigators that the NBA forward had a history of drug abuse and had made multiple attempts at rehabilitation before his death.
Toxicology testing found heroin and cocaine in Clarke’s system, along with morphine and several prescription medications. The medical examiner listed the combined effects of multiple prescription drugs as a contributing condition, while maintaining heroin and cocaine as the official cause of death and classifying the manner of death as accidental.
Investigators also documented drug-related items at the residence, including syringes, Narcan, cannabis products and other paraphernalia. Those details form part of the official investigative record surrounding Clarke’s death, but they do not by themselves establish the full history or circumstances of his substance use.
Clarke had also encountered a drug-related legal issue shortly before his death. Approximately six weeks earlier, he was arrested in Arkansas following a traffic stop and faced charges that included possession of a controlled substance, along with speeding and reckless driving.
On the court, Clarke spent his entire seven-year NBA career with Memphis after being selected in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft and immediately traded to the Grizzlies. He developed into an important frontcourt contributor, averaging 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds across 309 regular-season games. Injuries significantly affected the later stages of his career, including an Achilles tear in 2023 and further knee and calf problems.
