Watch:Brandon Clarke’s Cause of Death Revealed After NBA Star Dies at 29
New information about Brandon Clarke’s death has been shared
Almost three months after the veteran NBA player was found dead on May 11 in his California home, authorities have released his cause of death and manner of death
The 29-year-old died due to the effects of heroin and cocaine, according to an Aug. 7 press release from the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner. His death was ruled an accident
Paramedics arrived to his home in the San Fernando area of Los Angeles around 5 p.m. on May 11 and found Clarke “unresponsive in his bedroom,” per the medical examiner
Responding paramedics pronounced his death 15 minutes after arriving
The athlete—who had played for the Memphis Grizzlies for seven years—was discovered with drug paraphernalia present, leading investigators to consider the possibility of an overdose, law enforcement told NBC Los Angeles
The medical examiner has since conducted an examination and determined that his death was indeed drug-related
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What Happened to Brandon Clarke? Inside the NBA Star’s World Before His Death
In addition, Clarke’s death certificate obtained by E! News noted that the “combined effects of multiple prescription medications” were detected.
Clarke’s career as a power forward took off at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Ariz., where he led the team to win a state championship before spending two years playing college basketball at San Jose State in California and Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. Shortly thereafter, the newcomer of the year—a title Clarke earned his junior season—was drafted to the league as a first-round pick in 2019
Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
While Clarke, a Canadian-American, was only able to play two games in the recent 2025-2026 season due to injuries, his team cherished his powerful legacy.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Brandon Clarke,” the Grizzlies said in a statement to E! News May 12. “Brandon was an outstanding teammate and an even better person whose impact on the organization and the greater Memphis community will not be forgotten.”
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