Kevin O'Connor: NBA sources confirm that Brandon Clarke’s contract was completely protected for death. The $12.5M is expected to be paid in full through life insurance. An erroneous report said that the Clarke estate will not be paid out his $12.5M following his death in May. But the deal was negotiated for the Memphis Grizzlies to reimburse for life insurance to protect against the possibility of death, which is a customary approach to player contracts across the NBA. It provides the most beneficial protection for a player that can be negotiated in an NBA contract, since it provides tax advantages to the player.
More on Brandon Clarke: Recent HoopsHype Rumors
Kevin O'Connor: NBA sources confirm that Brandon Clarke’s contract was completely protected for death. The $12.5M is expected
to be paid in full through life insurance. An erroneous report said that the Clarke estate will not be paid out his $12.5M following his death in May. But the deal was negotiated for the Memphis Grizzlies to reimburse for life insurance to protect against the possibility of death, which is a customary approach to player contracts across the NBA. It provides the most beneficial protection for a player that can be negotiated in an NBA contract, since it provides tax advantages to the player. — 8/14/2026 x.com
Multiple sources told Front Office Sports that Clarke earned his full $12.5 million from the 2025–26 season, but the final year of his salary won’t be paid out to his estate because it wasn’t protected for death. However, Clarke did have a life insurance policy, sources say. It’s unknown if the factors surrounding his death could impact its payout. — 8/13/2026 Front Office Sports
Clarke died inside of a San Fernando Valley home on May 11, and according to the LA County DME, medical personnel first located him “unresponsive in his bedroom” at around 5 p.m. He was ultimately pronounced deceased at 5:15 p.m. Drug paraphernalia was discovered near his body and the initial investigation surrounding his passing centered on the possibility of an overdose, according to multiple reports. — 8/7/2026 New York Post
Former NBA player Brandon Clarke died of a lethal combination of drugs, according to officials. The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner announced on Friday the 29-year-old passed away from “the effects of heroin and cocaine.” It added that the manner of his passing was an accident. — 8/7/2026 New York Post
Ben Golliver: Las Vegas Summer League honors Brandon Clarke with a moment of silence before Sunday’s championship game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors. Clarke led the Grizzlies to the 2019 Las Vegas Summer League championship and was named MVP. — 7/19/2026 x.com
Legion Hoops: Zach Edey reveals a Brandon Clarke memorial in the Grizzlies locker room ❤️ — 7/17/2026 x.com
The bags were labeled “100% Pure Mitragyna Speciosa,” with handwritten names such as “The Juice,” “Euflooria” and “Gold Rhino.” Online, the various strains totaled $223 and promised a “solid amount of relief,” “a speed boost” and “a mind and body melting burst of happiness in a plant.” Waiving his Miranda rights, Clarke quickly identified what had caught officers’ attention. “It’s just kratom,” he said. In the same botanical family as coffee, kratom has been used for centuries in Southeast Asia. In recent decades, it has developed a fervent following in the United States among people who say the kratom leaf – or its synthetic derivative 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH – helps manage chronic pain, kick opioid addictions and boost stamina. — 6/11/2026 New York Times
Six weeks before he died, Brandon Clarke sat in the back seat of a deputy’s patrol car, handcuffs digging into his left wrist as he shifted his 6-foot-8 frame in the cramped space. Outside, three officers searched his white Corvette along the shoulder of Highway 64 in eastern Arkansas. Across the two-lane road sat a steakhouse serving ribeye and deep-fried alligator, its empty parking lot waiting for the dinner regulars. Moments earlier, deputies had pulled over the Memphis Grizzlies forward with guns drawn, accusing him of attempting to flee at speeds topping 100 mph. But now, officers were more interested in the blue duffle bag on Clarke’s passenger seat. Reaching inside, they found seven smaller bags containing capsules of green powder and a few chewable tablets. They stacked them on the Corvette’s roof as Clarke watched from the cruiser’s backseat. “Sir, it’s all legal,” Clarke’s deep voice called out with calm certainty in an exchange captured by the cruiser’s dashcam and obtained by The Athletic. — 6/11/2026 New York Times
– In the spirit of you wanting to honor Brandon’s memory by winning games, how do you go about that? Cedric Coward: “It’s about doing what we can to get better each and every day. He was super impactful, especially during the times that the Grizzlies made the playoffs. So it’s about getting back there. Getting back to the playoffs is huge. It’s also about not taking every day for granted. That’s the biggest thing. You have to understand that time is short, not just for the people that you’re with, but for the time that you have in basketball. Anything can happen. Obviously, the most tragic thing happened with Brandon. But at the same time, injuries or contract situations are other parts. There are a whole bunch of things that can happen. So you have to take that into account. Since all of these things can happen, you really have to make sure that you’re doing what you can to maximize every moment that you’re on the court.” — 5/21/2026 R.Org Sports
– What made Brandon such a great teammate? Cedric Coward: “I only had a year with him. But at the same time, it was so impactful due to his love for his teammates. Especially for me as a rookie, he had a lot of love for me. He didn’t treat me like the stereotypical vet, giving me the typical rookie treatment. He did at times, but it was all fun and love. So with him, I thought it was so inspirational that he dealt with so many injuries, but he came in every day with a smile on his face. He came in every day with the same great attitude. He never treated anybody any differently. He never let anybody see that he was in a bad mood because of that. It helped me when I got hurt to do the exact same thing.” — 5/21/2026 R.Org Sports
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Brandon Clarke's $12.5 million contract was fully protected in case of death
