Former NBA champion Elden Campbell has died at age 57, as first reported by Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. The cause of death was not immediately known.
Campbell, a 6-foot-11 center with soft hands and a calm presence, played four seasons at Clemson before the Lakers drafted him 27th overall in 1990.
He went on to spend more than eight years in Los Angeles, becoming a steady interior anchor through the early 1990s and a favorite among teammates for what many described as an effortless, almost unbothered style of play.
A midseason trade sent him to Charlotte in 1999, and Campbell kept carving out a role across the league for several more seasons. He made stops with the Hornets, SuperSonics, Nets and Pistons, closing out a 15-year career that included a championship ring with Detroit in 2004.
He appeared in 14 postseason games during that title run and remained a trusted veteran presence throughout.
Across 1,044 regular-season games, Campbell averaged 10.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks and shot 46 percent from the field. He added another 106 playoff appearances and still ranks 37th on the NBA’s all-time blocks list with 1,602.
Former teammate Byron Scott told the Times that Campbell’s personality matched his on-court approach.
“I just remember his demeanor. That’s why we nicknamed him ‘Easy E,’” Scott said. “He was just so cool. Nothing sped him up. He was such a good dude.”
Our condolences go out to Campbell’s family, friends and the many people he touched throughout his NBA journey.
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