Elden Campbell, the former NBA centre who spent nine seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and later won a championship with the Detroit Pistons, has died at the age of 57. His family confirmed his passing on Monday to the Pistons, but no cause of death was provided.
Born in Los Angeles, the 6ft 11in Campbell attended Morningside High before a standout college career at Clemson University. He was named first-team All-ACC in the 1989-90 season and remains the school's all-time leading scorer with 1,880 points. He helped the Tigers win the ACC regular-season title and reach the Sweet 16 that year, leading to his selection by the Lakers in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft.
Campbell was the Lakers' leading scorer in the 1990s and was renowned for his shot-blocking ability. He averaged 14.9 points per game in the 1996-97 season, playing alongside Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Despite his long tenure in Los Angeles, his championship ring came with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, when they defeated the Lakers in five games.
Over 1,044 NBA games, Campbell amassed more than 10,000 points and 1,600 blocks, averaging 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. His most statistically impressive season was with the Charlotte Hornets in 1999-2000, where he averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds. He also played for the New Orleans Hornets, Seattle Supersonics and New Jersey Nets before retiring in 2005.
Campbell was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2024, it was confirmed that he had been selected for induction into the 2025 class of the Southern California Basketball Hall of Fame.
