Brandon Clarke
Brandon Clarke of the Memphis Grizzlies was found dead in his home in May. A coroner's report released Friday cited an accidental overdose as the cause of death.
Brandon Clarke, the Memphis Grizzlies forward found dead in his home in May, died from an overdose of heroin and cocaine, according to a coroners’ report released Friday by the L.A. County Medical Examiner.
The report also noted several prescription medications present in his system, and said the combination was a significant factor in his death. The full toxicology report, including the types of medications, will be released at a later date.
The 29-year-old Clarke, who was born in Vancouver before moving to Arizona as a child, was found dead in the bedroom of his Woodland Hills home in Los Angeles on May 11 after an emergency call was made just after 5 p.m.
Emergency responders pronounced him dead minutes after arriving, at 5:15 p.m.
Clarke had struggled with injuries the past three years, and the Grizzlies — with whom he’d played the majority of his career — were confident he’d be healthy in the upcoming season. His death came a few weeks after he was arrested and charged with drug trafficking in Arkansas.
Police had said they’d found 235 grams of Kratom in a bag in his car during an April 1 arrest. The drug, derived from a plant found mainly in Thailand, is a traditional medicine used for pain relief, recreation and to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms. It is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is considered a felony narcotic in Arkansas. It is, however, legal in the neighbouring state of Tennessee, where Clarke had a home.
Clarke also allegedly tried to flee a stop at speeds exceeding 160 km/h while making unsafe lane changes, and was facing misdemeanour charges for possessing vape pen containing THC.
Clarke attended Gonzaga University in nearby Spokane, Wash., before being selected in the first round — 21st overall — of the 2019 NBA draft.
He was in the final year of a four-year, USD $52 million contract.