Former NBA player Elden Campbell passes away at age 57

[The4thHorseman]

The Los Angeles Lakers have lost another member of their family far too soon.

Elden Campbell, the gentle giant who grew up in Inglewood dreaming of Lakers gold before carving out a 15-year career of quiet excellence, has died at the age of 57.

For fans who watched him rise from Morningside High School to the bright lights of the Forum, the loss feels personal. Campbell wasn’t just a Laker; he was one of their own — a hometown kid whose journey traced the streets that wind through Inglewood, Hawthorne, and down to Century Boulevard. You could feel that connection every time he jogged out of the tunnel, long and loose, shoulders relaxed, steady as sunrise.

Drafted 27th overall in 1990 by the team he grew up cheering for, Campbell became a fixture in Los Angeles during an era defined by transition — a bridge between Showtime’s fading glow and the dawn of Shaq and Kobe.

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/former-laker-and-nba-champion-who-played-with-shaq-and-kobe-dies-at-age-57/3811105/

[Hornet Mania]

RIP

I remember Campbell's time on the Charlotte Hornets well. He was the starting center for some of the best teams in franchise history and a calming veteran presence in the locker room.

I knew he started his career in LA but I had no idea he grew up in Inglewood and lived his dream by becoming a Laker. That's awesome.

[OrlandoMagic198]

That is sad news, he played with the Lakers most of his career and got a ring against the Lakers when he was on the Pistons which is ironic, rest in peace

[Rich Michmond]

Notably, he was LAL's leading scorer in the 90s.

[Blame Rasho]

Happy that he got to play for his childhood team. Seldom does that happen for any professional player.

He was young, and I say that as a person who is getting older and dealing with sick parents and life is short at times.

[ACasualFan]

Elden Campbell you had a good long playing career. I also remember watching you play good defense against shaq in the finals helping the Pistons win the champioship. RIP Legend.

[jojo4341]

This is sad news that came out of nowhere. I grew up a Laker fan at the end of the Showtime era and Campbell was instrumental in that transition between Showtime and the Shaq & Kobe era. That was one of my favorite times of watching basketball with a core of Campbell, Van Exel, Jones, Ceballos, and Divac. There was contention that he couldn't co-exist with Shaq so they traded him and Jones for Glen Rice. In retrospect, I didn't like the move and still don't but it eventually worked out for everyone. Glad he was able to win with Detroit...since I was born in Detroit, I didn't feel bad about the Lakers losing. RIP.

[KokoKaizer]

Wtf

RIP

[doogie_hauser]

57 ia way too young an age for anyone to die.

I remember Elden being a solid, maybe underrated member of The Lakers of the 90s..

Awful news tbh. All my prayers and healing thoughts to Elden's family/loved ones

[PlatinumState]

I liked his game, smooth for a center could shoot the middie.
RIP, so young.

[SkyHook]

57 is way too young. Man, I feel old.

[Loneshot]

Terribly young still

[bonita_the_frog]

Elden Campbell was clutch, in his rookie season in the 1991 NBA Finals he average 7.7 points on .625 field shooting in 11 minutes per game!

[Liam_Gallagher]

Dude was solid off the bench for the 2004 Pistons.

[druggas]

Elden Campbell always shut down Charles Barkley.

[theforumblue]

sad to hear. can't talk about 90s Lakeshow without him in it.

[Pointgod]

RIP Mr Campbell

[Anderson Hunt]

Elden Campbell was a super skinny shot blocking, high-flying rookie coming out of Clemson where he played in tandem with a very physical Dale Davis forming a devastating college frontline.

As a rookie, I vividly remember how much encouragement Magic would give him when he made mistakes. Magic did the same for Vlade Divac, building up his young big men.

I've always used this observation as a basis for comparison between Magic and Jordan, whereas Magic was a great encourager and leader, Jordan was a destroyer of these relationships. Kwame Brown would've been an infinitely better player playing under Magic's leadership rather than Jordan's in my opinion.

But I digress, Elden Campbell arrived in the league as a skinny, unskilled, jumping, otherworldly shot blocker, but he transformed his body and his game.

First off, as a rookie he was 6'11 220lbs soaking wet, but within three years he had put on fifty pounds of muscle. Not only that, he became a devastating low post scorer, displaying touch and footwork that rivaled some of the best low post scorers of his time.

He must've worked extremely hard to develop his body and skills, and that is commendable. Salute to him and my condolences to his loved ones. He was a quiet L.A basketball legend.

[HomoSapien]

Elden Campbell was sneaky good and perpetually underrated throughout his career. He had a smooth post game and could surprise you with his athleticism. I really wanted the Bulls to trade for him because it seemed like the Lakers undervalued him. I thought he would make a great starting center, and he ultimately was that for the Hornets. The Shaq Lakers were ultimately a dynasty, but I've always felt that giving up Campbell (and Eddie Jones) was a big misstep that sacrificed their depth.

[GrindCityHustle]

This one hurts. Alot of younger posters don't know dude but is pure 90s Laker nostalgia.

He really was a dude in the background that did all the glue stuff a good team needs.

He would still be ideal to have on any team in today's NBA.