Former NBA center Elden Campbell — known for his calm presence on and off the court and a respected veteran presence across 15 seasons — has died at the age of 57.
Campbell’s passing, confirmed by reports citing Los Angeles Times, was announced on Tuesday. The cause of death has not been made public.
He first made waves at Clemson Tigers, where between 1986 and 1990 he became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,880 points — a record that stood firmly until his death — while also ranking high in rebounds and blocks. During his senior year, he helped lead Clemson to the school’s only ACC regular-season championship and a berth in the Sweet 16.
In the 1990 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Campbell with the 27th overall pick — a homecoming of sorts for the Inglewood-raised big man who had attended Morningside High School. Over the next nine seasons — part of a 15-year NBA career — he carved out a reputation as a steady, unflashy but reliable force. He averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game across his career.
Campbell’s best statistical season came after a trade to the Charlotte Hornets, where he averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds, proving that beneath the calm demeanor was real power and skill. But perhaps the most poetic chapter of his career came at its end — when playing for the Detroit Pistons in 2004, he helped them defeat the Lakers to secure an NBA championship, earning a ring even though it came against the team that drafted him.
As news of his death spread, tributes poured in. Former Lakers teammate Byron Scott remembered Campbell by his nickname “Easy E,” praising the smoothness and grace of his play — a reflection of the calm, easy-going soul he was both on and off the court. “He was just so cool, nothing speeding him up,” Scott said. Another ex-Laker, Cedric Ceballos, posted on social media: “This one hurt to the bone… grew up as kids together.”
Earlier this year, Campbell was set to be honored with induction into the SoCal Basketball Hall of Fame — a nod to a career that began in Southern California high school gyms and rose through college and pro ranks.
He leaves behind a legacy defined not by flashy highlight reels alone, but by consistency, quiet strength, and loyalty to the game and communities that shaped him. For many fans who grew up watching those 1990s Lakers and later admired his journeyman resilience, his passing is a sharp reminder that time marches on. Yet the memory of “Big E,” as teammates sometimes called him, will stay alive — in statistics, in memories, and in the quieter moments of respect every time someone recalls a gentle giant who always tried to make the game look easy.
