Former Lakers center Elden Campbell, who played 8 ½ seasons of his 15-year NBA career with the Los Angeles team he watched while growing up here and attending Morningside High, has died. He was 57.
The cause of death is not known.
Former Lakers teammates and friends offered their condolences Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I just received devastating news that my former Lakers teammate and friend Elden Campbell has passed away,” Magic Johnson posted on X Wednesday morning. “He was such a gentle soul. As a basketball player, he was extremely athletic. I loved throwing lobs to Elden because he could jump out the gym and had so much talent! Cookie and I are praying for his family and Lakers Nation as they mourn during this difficult time. Rest in peace Big E!”
The 6-foot-11 Campbell, who was drafted by the Lakers in the first round out of Clemson in 1990, averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds over his career. He won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, getting his title with a win over the Lakers.
Campbell was known for his seemingly effortless style of play and calm and easy-going demeanor.
Former Laker Byron Scott, who said he knew Campbell’s family because Scott also grew up in Inglewood and went to Morningside, said the news was painful to hear. Scott and Campbell were teammates on the Lakers for Campbell’s first three seasons from 1990-1993 and then when Scott returned for his final NBA season with L.A. in 1996-97.
“I just remember his demeanor. That’s why we nicknamed him ‘Easy E,’ ” Scott told The Times. “He was just so cool, nothing speeding him up. He was going to take his time. He was just easy. He was such a good dude. I loved Easy, man.”
Campbell averaged 14.9 points per game with the Lakers during the 1996-97 season playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Campbell’s best season was with the Charlotte Hornets in 1999, when he averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds after being traded along with Eddie Jones for Glen Rice.
“This one hurt to the bone,” Cedric Ceballos said on Instagram about his former Lakers teammate. “Grew up as kids together.”
Campbell was part of the 2025 SoCal Basketball Hall of Fame Class.
Lakers center Elden Campbell dunks over Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis during a game on April 25, 1997, at the Forum.
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Campbell remains Clemson’s career scoring leader with 1,880 points and is among the school’s career leaders in blocked shots and rebounds. During the 1989-1990 season, Campbell’s senior year, the Tigers won their only ACC regular season title and reached the Sweet 16 before losing at the buzzer to Connecticut.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of Elden Campbell’s passing,” Cliff Ellis, Campbell’s coach at Clemson, said in a statement. “Elden was a great player for four years, especially in 1989-90 when he was a major reason we won Clemson’s only ACC regular season championship. … But most of all, Elden was an outstanding, giving person. This is a sad day for the Clemson family.”
After leaving Clemson, Campbell was viewed as a big man with vast potential who would become a force in the NBA. He never quite lived up to that billing, but he was a good defender and had a nice scoring touch.
“I thought that if he really, really wanted to be good — and that’s the only thing I would say negative about him — is that had the potential to be a great player,” Scott said. “He just wanted to play. He didn’t work out until his contract was up and he got ready to try to get another one. He didn’t put that time in, but he had some skills. He was big and strong and could jump out of the gym. He had that nice little turnaround jump shot. He didn’t want to be great, to be honest with you. He just wanted to play. But what a good guy.”