Elden Campbell, former NBA champion and all-time top scorer for Clemson, passes away at 57
Elden Campbell, Clemson basketball icon and former NBA Champion with the Detroit Pistons, died at 57. His death was acknowledged by Clemson University, which received a statement confirming the event, but elicited no further comment.
Campbell earned All-ACC recognition three times and was a powerful player on the team, winning three NCAA tournaments. In 1990, he was the only player on his team to win the school’s first regular season ACC title, and made it to the 16th round of the Connecticut tournament, where he lost with a final round.
Campbell is the only one to score 1,880 points, he is second all-time on the blocks list with 334, and eighth on the all-time rebounds list with 836 in Clemson’s history, which is a huge impact for the university.
In his statement, Cliff Ellis, a former Clemson coach, referred to Campbell’s inner and outer kindness and dedication to the sport, and his retirement from it. “Clemson family is mourning today,” Ellis said.Campbell was chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft. Played 9 seasons in LA before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 1999. He also played in Seattle, New Jersey, and finished his career in Detroit, where he was part of the NBA champion Pistons team in 04. Detroit remembered him in a post saying how his strength and composure was a positive for his fans, his teammates, and the community.
The Lakers also honored him by saying, “RIP Big Easy’’ with a short message on social media.
In the 15 years he played in the NBA, Campbell played 1,044 games and scored an average of 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Rosemary and their four children survive him.