Elden Campbell #41 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks against the Sacramento Kings circa 1996 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
Elden Campbell.
Former NBA star Elden Campbell has died
The retired center played for the Los Angeles Lakers over nine seasons, from 1990-1999
Former teammates are sharing tributes about the man they called "Big Easy"
Elden Campbell, the retired Los Angeles Lakers star who won an NBA championship against the team while on the Detroit Pistons, has died. He was 57.
Campbell’s alma mater, Clemson University, announced his death on social media on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
“We mourn the loss of Elden Campbell, our all-time leading scorer, All-American and three-time All-ACC player, who passed away at the age of 57,” the school wrote in a post on Instagram.
Cliff Ellis, Campbell's coach at Clemson, shared a tribute to the former ACC standout in a statement.
"I am deeply saddened to learn of Elden Campbell's passing,” Ellis said. “Most of all, Elden was an outstanding, giving person. This is a sad day for the Clemson family. Elden loved Clemson, he came back and supported the program after he retired. He exemplified what Clemson was all about."
Campbell’s cause of death was not immediately known.
Elden Campbell #41 of the Los Angeles Lakers shootst against the Houston Rockets at the Summit in Houston, Texas on December 6,, 1996
Elden Campbell #41 of the Los Angeles Lakers shootst against the Houston Rockets at the Summit in Houston, Texas on December 6,, 1996
Selected by his hometown team as the 27th pick in the 1990 NBA Draft, the Inglewood, Calif. native played nine seasons with the Lakers, where he shared the iconic Forum court with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. During the 1996-97 campaign, he averaged 14.9 points per game, according to ESPN.
In 1999, Campbell and his teammate Eddie Jones were traded to the Charlotte Hornets for Glen “Big Baby” Rice, J.R. Reid and B.J. Armstrong.
After four seasons with the Hornets, the 6-foot 11 athlete went on to play in New Orleans, Seattle, New Jersey and Detroit, where he won an NBA title against the Lakers in 2004.
Campbell’s contributions — including reining in Shaq's dominance and sealing a Game 3 win with a breakaway dunk — were widely hailed in the Pistons winning the series.
In 1,044 career games over 15 NBA seasons, Campbell averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Now, Campbell — known for his low-key personality — is being remembered and mourned by his former teammates.
“I just remember his demeanor. That’s why we nicknamed him ‘Easy E,’ ” retired Lakers star Byron 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.”
“This one hurt to the bone,” former Lakers forward Cedric Ceballos wrote on Instagram. “Grew up as kids together. Rest BIG EASY.”