Former Laker Elden Campbell, known for his effortless style, dies at 57

Former Lakers center Elden Campbell, who played 8 ½ seasons of his 15-year NBA career with the Los Angeles team he watched while growing up here and attending Morningside High, has died. He was 57 years old.

Former Lakers teammates and friends offered their condolences Tuesday.

The 6-foot-11 Campbell, who was drafted by the Lakers in the first round out of Clemson in 1990, averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds during his career. He won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, securing his title with a victory against the Lakers.

Campbell was known for his seemingly effortless style of play and calm, laid-back demeanor.

Lakers center Elden Campbell dunks over Trail Blazers center Arvydas Sabonis during a game on April 25, 1997 at The Forum.

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Former Laker Byron Scott, who said he knows Campbell’s family because Scott also grew up in Inglewood and went to Morningside, said the news was painful to hear. Scott and Campbell were Lakers teammates when Scott returned for his final season with Los Angeles in 1996-97.

“I just remember his behavior. That’s why we nicknamed him ‘Easy E,'” Scott told the Times. “He was so cool, nothing was going to rush him. He was going to take his time. He was just easy. He was such a good guy. I loved Easy, man.”

Campbell averaged 14.9 points per game with the Lakers during the 1996-97 season, alongside Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.

Campbell’s best season was with the Charlotte Hornets, averaging 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds.

“This one hurts to the bone,” Cedric Ceballos said on Instagram about his former Lakers teammate. “I grew up together as a child.”

Campbell was part of the SoCal Basketball Hall of Fame’s 2025 class.

After leaving Clemson, Campbell was considered a big man with vast potential who would become a force in the NBA. He never lived up to that reputation, but he was a good defender and had a nice scoring touch.

“I thought if he really, really wanted to be good — and this is the only negative thing I would say about him — is that he had the potential to be a great player,” Scott said. “He just wanted to play. He didn’t work out until his contract was up and he prepared to try to get another one. He didn’t put in all that time, but he had some skills. He was big and strong and could come out of the gym. He had that nice little jump shot. He didn’t want to be great, to be honest with you. He just wanted to play. But what a good guy.”