Newly released bodycam footage is providing a glimpse into the final weeks of NBA player Brandon Clarke's life. The video documents Clarke's arrest in Arkansas in April on charges of speeding and drug possession, an incident that occurred just six weeks before he was found dead in Los Angeles on May 11. Police stated that Clarke was in possession of kratom, a substance derived from the kratom leaf that is frequently marketed as an energy booster or pain reliever and is often referred to as “gas station heroin.”
Although Clarke's official cause of death is still under investigation, the footage has intensified national discussion regarding the safety of kratom. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has previously issued warnings to the public about the substance.
Clarke, 29, played his entire seven-year NBA career with the Memphis Grizzlies after being selected 21st overall in the 2019 NBA draft. His college basketball career began at San Jose State before he transferred to Gonzaga University.