Police have released bodycam footage that shows Brandon Clarke in the weeks before his death, offering a closer look at the former Memphis Grizzlies forward’s final month and a half. The video captures Clarke during an April arrest in Arkansas, about six weeks before he was found dead in Los Angeles at 29.
According to police, Clarke was pulled over for speeding, and officers later found kratom in his vehicle. Kratom is a plant-based substance marketed as an energy booster and pain reliever, but it is illegal in Arkansas.
It is often called “gas station heroin.” Health officials have also warned about its potential health risks.
Clarke died on May 11 after emergency crews responded to a medical call at a San Fernando Valley residence. Drug paraphernalia was found at the scene, and authorities are investigating the death as a possible overdose. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet listed an official cause of death, which is still pending toxicology results.
The Canadian forward spent all seven of his NBA seasons with the Grizzlies after being selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga. He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2020 and finished with averages of 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over 309 career games. Injuries limited him to just two appearances during the 2025-26 season.
The release of the footage has drawn fresh attention to Clarke’s final weeks as investigators continue trying to determine what led to his death.
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