Former NBA center Elden Campbell, a key player for both the Los angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons during a 15-year career, has died at the age of 57. The Pistons institution confirmed Campbell’s passing on monday, as notified by his family.
Campbell’s death marks the loss of a versatile big man who experienced championship success late in his career and leaves a legacy as a dominant scorer and rebounder from his collegiate days at Clemson University. His impact resonated across multiple franchises and with fans who witnessed his consistent performance throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Campbell starred at Morningside High School before attending Clemson, where he became one of the program’s most celebrated players. He earned first-team All-ACC honors in the 1989-90 season and concluded his college career as the Tigers’ all-time leading scorer with 1,880 points.
During his time at Clemson, Campbell led the team to the 1989-90 ACC regular-season championship and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. He was subsequently drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 23rd overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft.
Campbell spent nine seasons with the Lakers,becoming a consistent contributor alongside future Hall of Famers. While he didn’t secure a championship ring during his time in Los Angeles,he achieved that goal in 2004 as a member of the Detroit Pistons,defeating his former team,the Lakers,in five games in the NBA finals.
throughout his NBA career, Campbell appeared in 1,044 games, accumulating over 10,000 points and 1,600 blocked shots. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. His most productive statistical season came with the Charlotte Hornets in 1999-2000, where he averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds. He also had a strong season with the Lakers in 1996-97, averaging 14.9 points while playing alongside Shaquille O’neal and Kobe Bryant.
Campbell also played for the New Orleans Hornets, Seattle Supersonics, and New Jersey Nets before retiring from professional basketball in 2005.
