NBA player of J’can descent died of heroin, cocaine overdose

The death of Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke, who passed away at the age of 29, has been officially ruled an accident resulting from the combined effects of heroin and cocaine. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office announced the findings on Friday.

Clarke was discovered unresponsive in his bedroom on May 11 and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. A deputy medical examiner conducted an examination the following day, with the cause and manner of death being certified on Friday. The full Medical Examiner's report is expected to be made available at a later date.

Clarke, who held dual American and Canadian citizenship, was born to a Canadian mother and a Jamaican father. He was selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, who subsequently traded him to the Grizzlies. During his seven seasons with Memphis, Clarke played in 309 games, averaging 10.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per contest.