NBA champion Elden Campbell has died at 57 years outdated. The 15-year NBA veteran spent 9 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, 4 years with the previous Charlotte Hornets, in addition to stops with the Detroit Pistons, the previous New Orleans Hornets, Seattle SuperSonics and former New Jersey Nets.

Campbell’s Dec. 1 dying was the results of a drowning, Broward County chief of investigative providers Thomas Steinkamp stated to Individuals. The Broward County Sheriff’s Workplace stated the dying was unintended.

A primary-round draft decide, Campbell was chosen twenty seventh total by the Lakers in 1990. He blossomed right into a 15 factors per recreation scorer on a crew with Shaquille O’Neal and a rookie Kobe Bryant throughout the 1996-97 season. He was an integral two-way participant on these early-to-mid ’90s Lakers groups, and was the second-leading scorer for the crew throughout the 1994-95 playoffs.

Although Campbell is most well-known for his time with the Lakers, he received a championship with the Pistons in 2004, the place he beat his former crew throughout the NBA Finals. 

Previous to beginning his NBA profession, Campbell was a standout faculty participant at Clemson, the place he was a two-time All ACC participant, and led the Tigers to what’s nonetheless their solely common season convention title throughout the 1990 season. Campbell averaged 16.4 factors throughout that season and led the ACC in blocks per recreation in three out of his 4 years. Throughout his senior 12 months, Campbell helped lead Clemson to a Candy 16 end.

Campbell remains to be Clemson’s all-time main scorer with 1,880 profession factors, and is second in complete blocks. Cliff Ellis, who was Campbell’s coach at Clemson, expressed how vital the massive man was to the Tigers’ success.

“I’m deeply saddened to study of Elden Campbell’s passing,”  Ellis stated in a press release by way of the Los Angeles Occasions. “Elden was an ideal participant for 4 years, particularly in 1989-90 when he was a serious motive we received Clemson’s solely ACC common season championship. … However most of all, Elden was an impressive, giving particular person. This can be a unhappy day for the Clemson household.”

NBA Corridor of Famer Magic Johnson, who performed two seasons with Campbell, shared his ideas about his former teammate’s dying on social media. 

“I simply acquired devastating information that my former Lakers teammate and good friend Elden Campbell has handed away. He was such a mild soul. As a basketball participant, he was extraordinarily athletic. I cherished throwing lobs to Elden as a result of he might soar out the gymnasium and had a lot expertise! Cookie and I are praying for his household and Lakers Nation as they mourn throughout this troublesome time. Relaxation in peace Large E!”

The Lakers additionally shared their condolences with a social media put up.

A number of of Campbell’s former teammates took to social media to specific their disappointment over the information, together with Cedric Ceballos. “This one harm to the bone,” Ceballos wrote on an Instagram put up with an image of Campbell. “Grew up as youngsters collectively.”

Campbell was a member of the 2025 Southern California Basketball Corridor of Fame, and was named to Clemson’s Corridor of Fame in 2000.