Former Lakers forward Elden Campbell Passes Away at age 57

It was a meaningless game to many, but on October 27, 1991, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Seattle SuperSonics took to the floor for an exhibition game at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, BC. It was a chance to watch my idol, Magic Johnson, in person, a dream come true for a young teenage basketball fan. Unfortunately, Johnson would be sidelined with what would later be announced as HIV. While I was still able to watch James Worthy, AC Green, and Vlade Divac, it was also an opportunity to check out a young big man by the name of Elden Campbell, a player whose recent passing at the age of 57 (December 2, 2025) has brought back memories of that night and a career worth remembering. 

As a rookie the year prior, selected with the 27th pick in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft, Campbell had the privilege of playing with Johnson in a reserve role for a team that advanced to the NBA Finals. Years later, he would find himself sharing the floor with Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. Not a bad career for a player born and raised in Los Angeles, California.

Nicknamed "Easy E" because of his laid-back demeanor, not allowing anyone to rattle him, not in a rush, Campbell's game reflected his easygoing nature. Averaging 10 points, six rebounds, and 1.7 blocks during his nine years in LA, Campbell's game looked effortless. According to many of his teammates, he could have been better than he was had he just been willing to put in the extra effort.

In 1999, the Lakers traded Campbell to the Charlotte Hornets for Glen Rice, a move that helped set up LA's championship three-peat. Campbell thrived in Charlotte, posting career-best stats, but would miss out on three title-celebration parades.

Following a short stint with the Seattle SuperSonics, Campbell eventually got his championship ring in 2004. Ironically, it would come against his former team as the Detroit Pistons upset the heavily favored Lakers, a team that featured four future Hall of Fame players in O'Neal, Bryant, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton. Instead of winning a title with the team he idolized growing up, he ended up defeating them on basketball's biggest stage.

While his NBA career may have been that of a role player, Campbell was recognized by both Clemson University and Southern California Basketball as a member of their Hall of Fame.