Elden Campbell obit

Former Lakers big man Elden Campbell passes away at 57

Elden Campbell, who won a championship with the Pistons and also played with the Lakers and Hornets, among others, passed away on Tuesday 

He was not on the list.

Elden Campbell, a forward/center who was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers and won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, has passed away at the age of 57, per Broderick Turner of the LA Times. A strong rim-protector on defense and a capable contributor on offense, the former Clemson star played more than 1,000 games in the NBA.

It is no coincidence that Campbell spent his basketball career on teams that were in the midst of important or historic eras. He was an integral component of the Tigers' revival, helping them reach the NCAA Tournament in three of his four years at the South Carolina-based university. The former No. 27 overall pick was then fortunate enough to land on his hometown Lakers at the 1990 NBA Draft.

Campbell did his part to push LA through a trying transition period, as all-time great point guard Magic Johnson stepped away from the team after announcing he was HIV-Positive. He was a dependable player during his eight-and-a-half-year tenure with the Purple and Gold and brought stability to an organization that needed it in the early and mid 1990s. Although Campbell missed out on the Lakers' dynastic run at the turn of the 21st Century — traded to the Charlotte Hornets — fans still appreciate the impact he made.

The 1990 First-Team All-ACC selection continued to be an elevating presence, maintaining a regular starting role during what was a high point in Charlotte's history. The Hornets advanced to the playoffs in each of the three full seasons that Campbell played in the Queen City, a feat they never accomplished before or since. The team's seven-game showing in the 2001 Eastern Conference Semifinals is the farthest it has ever gone, and he was one of the reasons why.

Elden Campbell was able to seize the Larry O'Brien Trophy before retiring in 2005, operating as a trusted role player for the Pistons. He celebrated a championship victory at the expense of the Lakers, a full-circle moment that surely felt surreal for the Los Angeles native. He offered a welcome veteran presence that nicely meshed with the rest of the group.

The man consistently added value over the course of his 15-year NBA career. He averaged 10.3 points on 46.0 percent shooting to go along with 5.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He did not allow many free trips to the basket and ranks in the top-40 on the all-time blocking list. Campbell deserves his due for making a difference in multiple places during his long hoops journey.

But he had a life beyond the court. Thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.

Campbell attended Morningside High School in Inglewood, California before playing college basketball at Clemson University. During his four years at Clemson, he averaged 15.3 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game, and 2.7 blocks. During a one-point loss in the 1990 NCAA Tournament to a Connecticut team, his college team defended a play that consisted of a full-court catch-and-shoot play by Tate George with one second on the clock. That same year, the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Campbell with the 27th pick in the 1990 NBA draft.

On March 10, 1999, Campbell was traded by the Lakers along with Eddie Jones to the Charlotte Hornets for Glen Rice, J. R. Reid and B. J. Armstrong.

Campbell's longest tenures were with the Lakers and the Hornets (in both Charlotte and New Orleans); he would also play with the Seattle SuperSonics and briefly for the New Jersey Nets, spending most of the final two seasons of his career as a member of the Detroit Pistons, being on roster in the 2004 NBA Championship team. During Campbell's tenure with the Pistons, perhaps his most important contribution was his defense against center Shaquille O'Neal in the two playoff series in which the Pistons engaged O'Neal's teams (against the Lakers in the 2004 NBA Finals and against the Miami Heat in the 2005 NBA Eastern Conference Finals); because of his enormous bulk and strength, he presented a unique challenge to O'Neal in the low post and was one of the few NBA players who could pose a serious physical challenge to O'Neal on defense.

Campbell's 15-year career comprised 1,044 games, of which he started 671, and 106 playoff games, of which he started 53. In 15 seasons, Campbell averaged 10.3 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 1.5 blocks. He was especially known for his shot-blocking ability, with 1,602 career blocks; he is 34th all time in blocks. Notably, Campbell was the Los Angeles Lakers' leading scorer between 1990–91 and 1998–99. His nicknames were 'Easy', 'Big E', 'Big Homie', and 'The Janitor', which he received for his ability to clean up the boards.