NBA star Brandon Clarke's death ruled accidental overdose by autopsy report

NBA star Brandon Clarke, who was found unresponsive at his home in Los Angeles’s San Fernando Valley on May 11, died from drug overdose.

According to the LA County coroner office, Brandon, 29, cause of death ruled as accidental overdose “from the effects of heroin and cocaine.”

A medical examiner of L.A. County announced the autopsy results on Friday, August 7, ruling that Brandon had “the effects of heroin and cocaine” in his system at the time of his death.

The paramedics discovered Clarke in a bedroom unresponsive at his L.A. home on the evening of May 11 and pronounced dead at the scene.

The office of the L.A. County examiner also cited “combined effects of multiple prescription medications” as another “significant condition” linked to his death, but didn’t detail the medications in question.

The Memphis Grizzlies forward, who was ranked fourth in Rookie of the Year voting during the 2019-20 season, played a key role alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. to lift team prospects.

Clarke’s surprise death shocked the NBA world, and fans in Memphis were particularly moved by the loss, where he played his seven-season career.

Clarke was a first-round draft pick out of Gonzaga; he posted career averages of 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in 309 appearances for the Grizzlies.

Clarke had been prone to injuries, first suffering a torn Achilles in 2023 and 2024 that cost him a full calendar year.

Clarke struggled with knee and calf issues that restricted him to appearing in just two games last NBA season.