Former NBA center Elden Campbell died at age 57 from an accidental drowning after suffering a medical emergency while fishing in Florida. His body was found after washing up on shore following a solo fishing trip. The official cause was confirmed by the Broward County Sheriff's Office.
Elden Campbell, a 15-year NBA veteran, passed away on Monday from an accidental drowning. The incident occurred during a solo fishing trip in Florida, where he suffered a medical emergency. According to reports, his body washed up on shore, and 911 audio obtained by TMZ on December 5 details the discovery.
Campbell was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 1990 NBA Draft out of Clemson University. At Clemson, he holds the school's all-time scoring record, ranks second in career blocks, and led the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances.
During his professional career, Campbell spent over eight seasons with the Lakers before being traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 1999. With the Hornets, he achieved career highs of 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He later played for the Seattle SuperSonics, Detroit Pistons, and New Jersey Nets, winning an NBA championship with the Pistons in 2004.
Over his 15-year career, Campbell averaged 10.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. The Broward County Sheriff's Office provided the official cause of death, as reported by multiple media outlets.