Story perspectives

Memphis Forward Brandon Clarke Found Dead, Autopsy Planned

5/13/2026

Summary

Brandon Clarke Dies

Brandon Clarke, a 29-year-old Memphis Grizzlies forward, was found dead Monday at a Los Angeles home, prompting an autopsy plan.
Police found drug paraphernalia, noting Clarke had been arrested on April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and kratom.
The Grizzlies, Priority Sports, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBPA expressed devastation, while the San Antonio Spurs observed a moment of silence, noting Clarke was owed $12.5 million for the 2026-27 season.

Summary

Clarke Overdose

Paramedics declared Clarke dead after a 911 medical call at 5 p.m. on Monday in Los Angeles.
NBC Los Angeles reported investigators are treating the death as a possible overdose.
Clarke was arrested on April 1 in Arkansas on drug and speeding charges, with investigators saying the substance involved was kratom.
Kratom will become illegal in Tennessee on July 1, while no official cause of death has been released.

Summary

Brandon Clarke Injured

After knee surgery last fall, Brandon Clarke played only two games in the 2025-26 season.
He was a first-round pick in the 2019 NBA draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder and was immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Clarke appeared in 309 NBA games, started 50, and averaged 10.2 points per game.
The Grizzlies said his outreach and mentorship left a lasting impact on the greater Memphis community.

History

Historical Context

Len Bias, the Boston Celtics’ second-overall pick, died of a cocaine-induced cardiac arrhythmia on June 19 1986; more than 11,000 attended his memorial and his death spurred Congress to pass the Len Bias Law (Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986). The tragedy still shapes NBA drug policy, echoing today as Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke faces a suspected kratom overdose.

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Brandon Clarke Dies

Brandon Clarke, a 29-year-old Memphis Grizzlies forward, was found dead Monday at a Los Angeles home, prompting an autopsy plan.
Police found drug paraphernalia, noting Clarke had been arrested on April 1 in Arkansas for speeding and kratom.
The Grizzlies, Priority Sports, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBPA expressed devastation, while the San Antonio Spurs observed a moment of silence, noting Clarke was owed $12.5 million for the 2026-27 season.

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