Elden Campbell, 15-year NBA veteran, dead at 57…
Elden Campbell, a 15-year NBA veteran who spent the majority of his profession playing along with his hometown Los Angeles Lakers, has died, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was 57.
The reason behind dying is unknown.
Campbell, an Inglewood, Calif., native, attended Morningside High and grew up cheering for the Purple and Gold.
Former Lakers big Elden Campbell handed away early Wednesday morning at the age of 57. New York Post
The 6-foot-11 heart went on to star at Clemson University before getting drafted by the Lakers in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft.
Campbell, a 2025 SoCal Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, spent eight-and-a-half seasons in LA and averaged 10.3 factors and 5.9 rebounds per game during his profession.
He gained his lone NBA championship in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons, fittingly taking down the Lakers in a historic upset.
Elden Campbell defends Lakers guard Luke Walton during the 2004 NBA Finals. AP
Campbell earned the nickname “Easy E” for his easy, seemingly easy type of play, relaxed demeanor and secure locker room presence.
Former Lakers teammates and buddies provided their condolences after studying of Campbell’s passing.
Byron Scott, a fellow Inglewood native and Morningside High alum, explained that he was deeply saddened by the news. The duo performed together when Scott returned to LA for his final NBA season in 1996-97.
“I just remember his demeanor. That’s why we nicknamed him ‘Easy E,’ ” Scott told the Los Angeles 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.”
Elden Campbell was beloved by teammates for his easy type of play and regular locker room demeanor. New York Post
That season occurred to be Campbell’s best in Hollywood, averaging 14.9 factors and eight rebounds per game alongside the famous person duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.
He topped those numbers as a member of the Charlotte Hornets, placing up 15.3 factors and 9.4 rebounds an evening during the 1998-99 campaign.
“This one hurt to the bone,” former Lakers teammate Cedric Ceballos said on Instagram. “Grew up as kids together.”
Campbell entered the league with elite upside, pairing a powerful body with uber athleticism. While he never fairly reached the heights many projected, he remained an imposing inside defender with a pleasant contact round the rim throughout stops in LA, Charlotte, Seattle, New Orleans and Detroit.
Scott believed Campbell had all the makings of a famous person however acknowledged he was content taking a backseat to take pleasure in the game he cherished.
“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 [he] 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.”
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