By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Memphis Grizzlies’ difficult 2025-26 campaign took a dramatic turn away from the court on Wednesday as veteran forward Brandon Clarke was arrested and booked into a Cross County, Arkansas, jail. The 29-year-old Canadian, who has been a staple of the Grizzlies‘ roster since 2019, faces serious allegations, including trafficking a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.
According to records from the Cross County Sheriff’s Office, Clarke was booked at approximately 8:03 p.m. Central European Time. In addition to the narcotics charges, he faces two driving offenses. While the sheriff’s office declined to specify if the charges were felonies or misdemeanors, Chief Deputy Larry Jones stated that no further information would be released at this time.
The arrest comes just a week after the Grizzlies officially ruled Clarke out for the remainder of the 2025-26 Regular Season due to a right calf strain, following an earlier recovery from knee surgery.
BREAKING: Grizzlies big man Brandon Clarke was arrested today in Cross County, Arkansas.
He was booked just after 1 P.M. and is currently under CID hold. pic.twitter.com/DdAidI6tgW
— Matt Infield (@Matt_Infield) April 1, 2026
The news broke shortly before the Grizzlies hosted the New York Knicks at FedExForum. Finnish head coach Tuomas Iisalo acknowledged the situation during his pre-game media availability, stating he was “aware of the reports” but declined to comment further on the legal matter.
On the court, his side fell 130-119 to the Knicks. Despite the loss, French guard Adama Bal provided a spark off the bench, contributing 11 points, two assists, and two rebounds in 23 minutes of action. However, Spanish forward Santi Aldama remains sidelined as he recovers from right knee surgery, and French wing Rayan Rupert was inactive for the contest.
The winning side was led by a dominant performance from British forward OG Anunoby, who posted a double-double consisting of 25 points and 13 rebounds, adding three assists, two blocks, and one steal in 40 minutes. Also, German center Ariel Hukporti scored four points off the bench, and French prospect Mohamed Diawara added four points. Other European players on the Knicks roster, Poland’s Jeremy Sochan and France’s Pacome Dadiet, did not see playing time in the rotation.
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