The medical examiner’s findings, released on Friday, also identified the combined effects of multiple prescription medications as a significant contributing condition. The specific medications involved have not been disclosed, and the full report has yet to be made public.
Circumstances of Death
Clarke was found unresponsive in a bedroom at a residence in California’s San Fernando Valley on 11 May. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. An examination was conducted the following day, with the official cause and manner of death certified this week.
Career Overview
Clarke spent his entire seven-year NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies after starring at Gonzaga University. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds across 309 games and finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in the 2019-20 season.
Injuries significantly impacted his later years. He missed more than a year after suffering an Achilles tendon tear in 2023 and appeared in only two games during the 2025-26 campaign due to knee and calf problems.
Approximately six weeks before his death, Clarke had been arrested in Arkansas on charges that included possession and trafficking of a controlled substance following a traffic stop.
Club Tribute
In the aftermath of his passing, the Grizzlies described Clarke as an “outstanding teammate and an even better person,” noting that his influence extended beyond the organisation into the wider Memphis community.
The confirmation of the cause of death brings a measure of clarity to the circumstances surrounding the untimely loss of the young forward.