Late NBA star Brandon Clarke’s cause of death has been determined nearly three months after he died at age 29.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner announced on Friday, August 7, that Memphis Grizzlies power forward died from “the effects of heroin and cocaine.” A medical examiner’s report ruled that Clarke’s death was accidental.
On May 11, the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to an emergency call from a home in the San Fernando Valley shortly after 5 p.m. local time and later pronounced Clarke dead at the scene, per NBC 4 Los Angeles. Officials suspected Clarke may have died from an overdose because drug paraphernalia was reportedly found inside the residence.
However, there were some initial questions when the L.A. Medical Examiner deferred announcing a cause of death in May “pending additional investigation.”
Clarke was facing charges of speeding and possession of a controlled substance at the time of his death, after he led police on a high-speed chase in Arkansas in April.
The basketball player was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the NBA draft before being immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019. Clarke played all seven of his NBA seasons with the Grizzlies though he was sidelined for all but two games during the 2025–26 season due to injuries.
Following his death, the Grizzlies organization said that they were “heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke.”
“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 Grizzlies said in a statement in May. “We express our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
Ja Morant — who played for the Memphis Grizzlies at the time but has since been traded to the Portland Trail Blazers — acknowledged in a solemn statement that Clarke’s death was “bigger than basketball.”
Former Grizzlies power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. also reflected on the friendship that the two developed when Clarke joined the team in 2019. (Jackson, 26, was traded to the Utah Jazz in February.)
“I couldn’t imagine a world where this was even a possibility. i love you forever brother, this is absolutely devastating,” Jackson wrote via Instagram. “i just wish i could talk to you. you were so much to so many and even more to me. i will never have the words to describe what this feels like. i still can’t believe this. to your family and friends and everyone you were always a light and you were always so genuine and real and our friendship went far beyond anything on the court.”
He poignantly concluded, “I truly lost my twin. i’m still going to be talking to you always. you will be forever loved and forever missed.”
Clarke’s sister, Taylor Triplett, spoke out on behalf of her family two days after her brother’s death to thank the public for “the outpouring of love and support.”
“It means everything to our family. If you reached out please know I appreciate it so much but I am just having a hard time finding the words to even talk about this yet and it might be a while before I’m ready,” she explained via Instagram.
