Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke was arrested Wednesday in Arkansas following an afternoon encounter with law enforcement. The 29-year-old veteran was booked into the Cross County Jail shortly after 1 p.m. local time on a series of charges related to both driving and the possession of controlled substances.

According to online records from the Cross County Sheriff’s Office, Clarke faces allegations of trafficking a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Additional charges include fleeing in a vehicle while exceeding the speed limit, reckless driving, and improper passing.

While specific details regarding the circumstances of the arrest remain limited, jail records indicate that Clarke was held as of Wednesday afternoon. The incident took place approximately an hour west of Memphis, just hours before the Grizzlies were scheduled to host the New York Knicks at FedExForum.

​​Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo addressed the situation briefly during a pre-game press conference on Wednesday night.

"I'm aware of the report, but don't have any comments," Iisalo said.

After missing significant time recovering from knee surgery, Clarke appeared in only two games this season before being sidelined by a right calf strain in late December. On March 24, the Grizzlies officially ruled him out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.