Las Vegas Aces V Connecticut Sun A view of the jumbotron during a moment of silence for Brandon Clarke before the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on May 15, 2026. Brandon Clarke was a forward for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, Basketball Herren, USA who passed away unexpectedly on May 11, 2026. Uncasville United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xEricaxDenhoffx originalFilename:denhoff-lasvegas260515_np54G.jpg
Las Vegas Aces V Connecticut Sun A view of the jumbotron during a moment of silence for Brandon Clarke before the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on May 15, 2026. Brandon Clarke was a forward for the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA, Basketball Herren, USA who passed away unexpectedly on May 11, 2026. Uncasville United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xEricaxDenhoffx originalFilename:denhoff-lasvegas260515_np54G.jpg
The Memphis Grizzlies will not pay the final $12.5 million of Brandon Clarke’s contract to his estate.
That money also will not remain on Memphis' salary cap going forward.
According to a report from Front Office Sports, the Grizzlies formally terminated Clarke's contract on July 3, roughly seven weeks after the 29-year-old passed away.
Clarke was found unresponsive at a home in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles on May 11, per the outlet. He was pronounced at the scene.
Nearly three months later, on Aug. 7, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner formally ruled his passing an accident.
The office also flagged the combined effects of multiple prescription medications as a contributing factor, though it didn't specify which ones.
Clarke still had one year remaining on his deal. He was owed $12.5 million for the 2026–27 NBA season. That was the final year of the four-year, $50 million rookie extension he signed with Memphis back in October 2022.
Clarke earned his complete $12.5 million salary for the 2025–26 season, with payouts continuing to his estate through October 16, 2026.
However, the final year of his four-year, $50 million rookie extension (slated for the 2026–27 season) was not legally protected.
May 12, 2026, Los Angeles, California, USA: Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died from an undisclosed cause. He was 29. FILE PHOTO: LeBron James 6 of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Brandon Clarke 15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during their NBA game on Friday January 20, 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Lakers defeat Grizzlies, 122-121. JAVIER ROJAS/PI Los Angeles USA - ZUMAp124 20260512_zaa_p124_003 Copyright: xJavierxRojasx
May 12, 2026, Los Angeles, California, USA: Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke has died from an undisclosed cause. He was 29. FILE PHOTO: LeBron James 6 of the Los Angeles Lakers is defended by Brandon Clarke 15 of the Memphis Grizzlies during their NBA game on Friday January 20, 2023 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Lakers defeat Grizzlies, 122-121. JAVIER ROJAS/PI Los Angeles USA - ZUMAp124 20260512_zaa_p124_003 Copyright: xJavierxRojasx
There is no universal rule requiring every NBA team to pay the remaining value of a player's contract to his family after his death.
Teams can insure contracts against untimely events, reimbursing themselves and paying the estate. Without such protection, remaining salary is not automatically owed to family.
Clarke reportedly had a separate personal life insurance policy. But it remains unclear whether the circumstances surrounding his passing could affect the payout from that policy.
The player behind the contract
Clarke was selected 21st overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2019 NBA Draft, but Memphis acquired his draft rights on draft night. He then spent every one of his seven NBA seasons with the Grizzlies.
As a rookie in 2019-20, Clarke averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 61.8% from the field. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting and made the All-Rookie First Team.
His ability to score efficiently around the basket made him a valuable part of Memphis' second unit. That became even clearer during the 2021-22 season.
Clarke averaged 10.4 points and 5.3 rebounds while shooting 64.4% from the field. Memphis won 56 games, earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, and won its first Southwest Division title.
The Grizzlies also had one of the NBA's best bench units, with Clarke playing a major role in it.
In October 2022, Memphis locked him up on that four-year extension worth up to $52 million as a long-term asset alongside Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr.
For his seven-year NBA career, Clarke finished with averages of 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds over 309 games. He shot 60.5% from the field and became one of the most efficient big men in the franchise's history.
Written by
Md Saife Fida
Edited by
Aadesh Dhote