The basketball world shockingly lost Brandon Clarke to an accidental overdose in May. The Memphis Grizzlies were left “heartbroken” by their star’s death. Clarke, who spent all seven professional seasons in Memphis, struggled with injury problems for the last three years, playing only 72 games. Less than five months after his final NBA appearance, Clarke was found unresponsive in his bedroom.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner revealed combined effects of h****n and c*****e as the cause of death. The autopsy report also stated the “combined effects of multiple prescription medications” contributed to it. Toxicology testing detected o*******e, anti-anxiety medications, and muscle relaxers. The report confirmed each was found within therapeutic levels.

Details about the investigation of Clarke’s home have also emerged. Authorities found “no signs” of foul play or any fatal injuries. But they did discover “vape devices, c*****s products, injectable peptides, syringes and a box of Narcan, the medical examiner wrote.” According to Melody Gutierrez of The Athletic, “a white powdery substance” was also found in the kitchen.

Clarke had been living in Woodland Hills, a Southern California neighborhood. His roommate told authorities that the former NBA player had a “history of d**g use” and had previously spent time in “a rehabilitation program.”

The medical examiner confirmed that Clarke was last seen alive around midnight on May 11, spending time at home with a friend. Later that day, his agent was concerned after being unable to reach him. The agent asked Clarke’s roommate to check, but the roommate believed he was either asleep or at basketball practice.

He later found the Memphis Grizzlies star unresponsive in his bedroom. Paramedics pronounced Clarke dead at 5:15 p.m. This happened only six weeks after the NBA star was charged with felony counts of trafficking a controlled substance (reportedly krato*) and fleeing law enforcement in Arkansas.

Clarke played 309 games across seven seasons with the Grizzlies. His final season was heavily disrupted by injuries, limiting him to just two appearances. After undergoing an arthroscopic procedure and missing the opening months of the 2025-26 campaign, Clarke returned for roughly 17 minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Three days later, he appeared in a home matchup against the Washington Wizards, which became his final NBA game.

A strained calf kept him sidelined afterward, and by March, reports indicated that he had not progressed enough to return. At 29, Clarke had been expected to make a full recovery before the upcoming season, which would have been the final year of his four-year contract worth $12.5 million annually. That same contract turned into an unexpected matter of dispute after the player’s tragic death.

Has Brandon Clarke’s contract payout been resolved?

According to reporting from Front Office Sports, Brandon Clarke was entitled to his full $12.5 million salary during the 2025-26 NBA season. However, because his NBA contract lacked a death protection provision, his family stood to receive nothing from the deal’s remaining value.

Clarke is believed to have carried a life insurance policy, though whether his cause of death would qualify for a full payout remains uncertain.

Seven weeks after Clarke passed away on July 3, the Grizzlies formally ended his contract. Biweekly salary disbursements tied to the previous season were reportedly scheduled to run through mid-October, but that’d be it.

Although Memphis maintained public silence on the financial details, Clarke’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, disputed reports suggesting his contract did not provide protection for his family.

“It was very disappointing to see the misinformation that was reported,” Bartelstein told Yahoo Sports. “Brandon’s contract was fully protected for a God-forbid occurrence. So Brandon’s family and his estate are fully protected in Brandon’s contract.”

Bartelstein also praised the Grizzlies for being cooperative during the tough times.

“The Grizzlies have been an incredible partner in supporting Brandon from the moment they drafted him. The support that the entire Grizzlies organization has shown to Brandon’s family during this devastating time has been beyond words. And we all could not be more appreciative.”

Hence, Clarke’s family and estate have been fully protected under the agreement. Although rare, this isn’t the first time a player’s death has raised questions around his payout. Back in 1993, Reggie Lewis’ passing exposed a gap in the rules. The Celtics were left no choice but to cover the remaining two seasons on his contract.

The NBA did not have a provision that voided a player’s contract obligations after death. No rule involving an insurance layer for serious issues also existed. The Collective Bargaining Agreement was later modified, and its positive effect was evident when the Miami Heat didn’t have to cover Chris Bosh’s deal alone.

Bosh suffered life-threatening blood clots and had to step away from the game. Of the $52 million he was owed, $29 million was covered by an insurance policy while the team paid the rest. Both parties agreed to peacefully part ways.