Brandon Clarke's death ruled accidental cocaine, heroin overdose

Multiple prescription medications also contributed

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 71 min read

MEM

Memphis GrizzliesNBA

What happened: The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released its finding Friday, nearly three months after Clarke was found unresponsive at a Southern California residence on May 11. The 29-year-old Memphis Grizzlies forward was pronounced dead that evening.

Why it matters: Clarke spent all seven NBA seasons with Memphis and remained under contract through 2026-27. The Grizzlies had expected him to recover from his latest injury before the upcoming season.

By the numbers: Clarke played 309 games over seven seasons, while Memphis reached the playoffs four times during his career. At Gonzaga, he led Division I with a 68.7% field-goal rate.

What to watch: A full autopsy report is expected to identify the prescription medications that contributed to his death.

Sources

nytimes.com Aug 7, 5:47 PM ET

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Brandon Clarke's death ruled accidental cocaine, heroin overdose

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