TMZ: Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death was suspected to be due to a drug overdose, and the player was scheduled to appear in court this week for multiple drug-related

Leading American gossip website TMZ, exclusively reported on Wednesday that Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke's cause of death was suspected to be due to a drug overdose, and the player was scheduled to appear in court this week for multiple drug-related charges.

According to the report, Clarke's barber friend told the online media outlet that the player had been chatting and laughing with him normally just days before, showing no signs of being a young man who would suddenly die in a few days. During this offseason, he had been staying at the Los Angeles residence of a friend from his college days, which was also where he was found dead.

The Los Angeles Fire Department received a report on Monday (May 11) that Clarke had been found unconscious in his residence and dispatched paramedics. However, he had already passed away when the ambulance arrived. Drug paraphernalia was also found at the scene.

Currently, Clarke's body has been released to his family, but the exact cause of death still needs further examination by a forensic pathologist.

The report also stated that Clarke was originally scheduled to appear in court this Friday (May 15th) for a trial related to multiple drug-related charges he was accused of committing before his death.

In April 2026, Clarke was charged by Arkansas police with multiple drug-related offenses, one of which was a felony of trafficking controlled substances. At the time, he caught possessing illegal narcotics, including the popular painkiller Kratom, during a traffic stop in April.

He was also charged with speeding while attempting to evade police pursuit.

In addition, Clarke was charged with three misdemeanors: possession of less than 4 ounces of a Class 6 controlled substance, illegal overtaking on the left, and exceeding the speed limit by more than 15 mph.

However, due to Clarke's untimely death, these cases will not be pursued.

About Brandon Clarke

Clarke, who was only 29 when he died, was born on September 19, 1996, in Vancouver, Canada. He was 2.03 meters tall and played as a power forward. Clarke enrolled at San Jose State University in 2015, playing in NCAA college basketball, before transferring to Gonzaga University in 2017.

In his final college season (2018/19), Clarke was named to the All-American Third Team by multiple media outlets.

Clarke was selected 21st overall in the first round of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, and subsequently traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.

During the 2019/20 season, Clarke was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in his rookie season.

On March 4, 2023, Clarke suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in an NBA regular season game against the Denver Nuggets, ending his season. He recovered the following season and briefly returned to the bench as a key reserve player.

On March 23, 2025, Clarke suffered a severe torn posterior ACL in his right knee, subsequently sidelining him for an extended period again.

This season, Clarke only played two games for the team in December 2025 before missing another game due to injury.

Looking back on his short seven-year NBA career, Clarke played 309 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 60.5% and a three-point percentage of 26.6%.

Image source: Internet / NBA official website