The Los Angeles Lakers have been mourning this past week after news broke that former center Elden Campbell died at the age of 57.
Campbell was a beloved Laker during the 1990s, playing the first nine years of his 15-year career with the purple and gold. A local product who attended Morningside High School in Inglewood, Campbell was known for his athleticism and fluidity for a big man. Campbell played his final season with the Detroit Pistons where he won his only championship in 2004 against his former team.
Campbell’s cause of death was previously unknown but according to Edward Lewis of The New York Post, his sister revealed he had collapsed following a fishing trip:
Former Lakers center Elden Campbell died after he collapsed following a fishing trip in Florida, his sister, Sandra, told The Post.
Campbell had been out on the water and suffered some kind of medical emergency after making it back to land Monday, according to Sandra.
“It was all the sudden,” she said. “He wasn’t sick. He was out fishing.”
She added she and the family “don’t want to speculate” on what exactly caused the issue.
“We don’t know what happened,” she said.
There still don’t seem to be many answers as to what exactly happened to Campbell, but nonetheless it’s incredibly tragic. More answers will surely come to light after the proper parties have had time to investigate the situation, but for now the Lakers organization will continue to mourn his passing.
Campbell never reached the star heights that some predicted he could hit, but he was still a beloved member in Los Angeles. The Lakers franchise was in a bit of a transition following Magic Johnson’s sudden retirement, so players like Campbell brought joy to a fan base that was forced to wait longer than expected before they could root for championships again.
Los Angeles has been fortunate to see so many great athletes play in the city, so someone like Campbell will certainly be missed.
Magic Johnson and other Lakers react to Elden Campbell’s death
When the news of Elden Campbell’s death initially broke, there was an outpouring from his former teammates and fans. Magic Johnson and Mychal Thompson both posted heartfelt messages via their personal X accounts, while Cedric Ceballos posted a tribute on his personal Instagram account.
By the number of posts and messages, Campbell was loved by the people in his life and it’s incredibly sad that he is gone.
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