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How did Brandon Clarke die? What we know about unexpected death of Grizzlies forward

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Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died last week on May 11 at the age of 29.

The NBA team and Clarke’s agency separately announced the next day that he had passed.

Tributes poured in from across the league remembering the former Gonzaga star as a passionate player and caring member of the community. Ja Morant mourned his teammate, saying he was “gone way too soon.”

The day that the news broke, reports came out that Clarke’s death was being investigated as a possible overdose. NBC 4 Los Angeles said that the Los Angeles Fire Department received a 911 call on May 11 for a medical emergency in the San Fernando Valley. When responders arrived on the scene, they found Clarke dead, according to the report. There was evidence of drug usage and an investigation began.

At the time of publication, Clarke’s cause of death has been deferred and his body has been released, per the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. The case remains open.

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Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke dies at 29. His career in photos

A month prior to his passing, Clarke was arrested in Arkansas and handed multiple charges, including trafficking a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Clarke spent all seven seasons of his NBA career with the Grizzlies and averaged 10.2 points per game. He was the 2019 Summer League MVP and was selected in the first round of that year’s draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the No. 21 overall pick. He was traded to the Grizzlies that day.

The Vancouver, Canada native spent his final college season with Gonzaga. He had a school-record 36 points in an NCAA Tournament game en route to an Elite Eight appearance with the Bulldogs that season.

Where did Brandon Clarke go to college?

Clarke played his first two seasons of college ball at San Jose State. He was named Mountain West Sixth Man of the Year during his freshman season (2015-16), and was All-Mountain West first team during his sophomore year. He also was named to the all-defensive team in that sophomore campaign.

Clarke then transferred to Gonzaga, where he redshirted during the 2017-18 season. His junior year he was named West Coast Conference Newcomer of the year after playing in 37 games and averaging 16.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 3.2 blocks.

Brandon Clarke draft

Clarke was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the No. 21 pick in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft. The Thunder promptly traded Clarke to the Memphis Grizzlies for Darius Bazley and a future second-round draft pick.

Brandon Clarke’s NBA career

Clarke spent all seven seasons of his NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies, where he averaged 10.2 points per game. This season, he suffered a calf injury in December that sidelined him for the rest of the Grizzlies’ campaign.

Brandon Clarke stats

Brandon Clarke played his entire seven-year career with the Memphis Grizzlies, finishing fourth in NBA Rookie of the Year voting after the 2019-20 season. Here are his general stats for all seven seasons:

  • 2025-26: 4.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 1.0 steals in 2 games (2 starts)

  • 2024-25: 8.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.6 blocks in 64 games (18 starts)

  • 2023-24: 11.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.0 blocks in 6 games (1 start)

  • 2022-23: 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.7 blocks in 56 games (8 starts)

  • 2021-22: 10.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.6 steals, 1.1 blocks in 64 games (1 start)

  • 2020-21: 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.9 blocks in 59 games (16 starts)

  • 2019-20: 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.8 blocks in 58 games (4 starts)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brandon Clarke cause of death: Latest on how Grizzlies player died

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