Brandon Clarke died of heroin and cocaine overdose, authorities say

Late NBA player Brandon Clarke died of a drug overdose, authorities announced Friday.

Clarke, then of the Memphis Grizzlies, was found dead May 11 in his Los Angeles home from what the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said Friday was an accidental overdose from “the effects of heroin and cocaine.”

Authorities found drug paraphernalia in his home when he died. He was 29 years old.

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Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke (15) reacts in the second half during Game 5 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves April 26, 2022, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Brandon Dill)

While Clarke was a first-round pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019, his rights were traded to the Grizzlies in exchange for the rights to Darius Bazley and a future second-round pick. Clarke quickly made his impact known with the Grizzlies, earning MVP in the 2019 NBA Summer League, where the Vancouver native became the second non-American to ever win the award. Clarke spent the past seven years with the Grizzlies, where he mainly played a role off the bench.

This past season was a rough one for Clarke, though. He played just two games, initially sitting out due to surgery on his right knee before a right calf strain he suffered forced him to miss most games this season.

Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts during a game against the Golden State Warriors at FedExForum Dec. 19, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)

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Memphis announced in March that Clarke was still rehabbing his injury, but tests had shown he needed more time to heal. As a result, the expectation was he would return next season.

Clarke got into some trouble with the law in April, when he was arrested in Arkansas and booked on charges of improper passing, possession of a controlled substance, fleeing and exceeding the speed limit and trafficking a controlled substance. He was scheduled to appear in court May 15.

Clarke starred for Gonzaga during his college career before playing for the Grizzlies. He made the 2019-20 All-Rookie team after averaging 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in his bench role that season.

Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball during a game against the LA Clippers at FedExForum Dec. 23, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)

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Clarke averaged 20.8 minutes on the floor across 309 career games, while tallying 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest over his career.

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report.

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