Former Laker Elden Campbell dies at 57, ESPN reports

Wednesday, December 3, 2025
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Former Lakers player Elden Campbell, who played nine seasons with Los Angeles in the 1990s, has died. He was 57.

Campbell's alma mater, Clemson,announced that he died Tuesday without offering details. Campbell was the school's all-time leading scorer.

Campbell was a three-time All-ACC selection at Clemson from 1986 to 1990, making three NCAA tournaments. As a senior, Campbell helped lead the Tigers to their only regular-season ACC title ahead of a run to the Sweet 16, where they lost to UConn on a buzzer-beater.

Selected in the first round by the Lakers in 1990, Campbell would go on to play nine seasons in Los Angeles before he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 1999. He would also play for Seattle, New Jersey and Detroit, winning an NBA title with the Pistons in 2003-04 before his career ended the following year.

Campbell was inducted into the Southern California Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year.



While in Los Angeles, where he grew up, Campbell played with Laker greats Byron Scott, Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

In a post on X, former teammate Magic Johnson called Campbell "such a gentle soul."



In 1,044 career games over 15 NBA seasons, Campbell averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds.

ESPN contributed to this report.



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