Clarke was arrested in Arkansas on drug charges about six weeks earlier
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said Friday that Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died in May from the effects of heroin and cocaine, and ruled the death accidental.
Clarke, 29, was found dead inside a home near Los Angeles on May 11.
A person familiar with the terms of the investigation told The Associated Press after the Grizzlies announced Clarke’s passing that drug paraphernalia was found at the residence. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because those details had not been released publicly.
Clarke was under contract to be with the Grizzlies through the 2026-27 season.
About six weeks before he died, Clarke was arrested in Arkansas on charges of speeding, reckless driving and possessing a controlled substance.
Clarke spent all seven of his professional seasons with Memphis after finishing his college career at Gonzaga.
The medical examiner’s determination, announced Friday, provides an official cause of death for the 29-year-old forward months after he was found dead near Los Angeles.