Source: basketnews.com
Memphis Grizzlies will not pay the heirs of center Brandon Clarke for the final year of his $12.5 million contract, and this amount will not count against the salary cap, according to Front Office Sports.
Clarke earned his full $12.5 million salary for the 2025/2026 season; however, the last year of his contract, which carries the same amount, will not be paid to his heirs because the contract lacked a death protection clause.
Clarke’s case marks the first time in a decade that an NBA player has died while under an active contract. The last similar incident involved forward Bryce Dejean-Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans, who was tragically killed in May 2016 after mistakenly entering the wrong apartment in Dallas and being shot by a frightened resident.
Clarke’s contract with Memphis was officially set to begin on July 3, nearly seven weeks after his death. Under the NBA collective bargaining agreement, a team has the right to terminate a contract following a player’s death, but the obligation to pay guaranteed money depends on whether the contract includes a specific death protection clause.
Clarke was a key figure for the Grizzlies and set an NBA rookie season record. He averaged 12.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting an impressive 61.8% from the field — the highest shooting percentage ever recorded by a league rookie.
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