The Los Angeles Lakers , long considered as one of the NBA 's most fiscally responsible teams, have had few significant blunders, but one decision has sparked debate: Elden Campbell 's seven-year, $49 million contract.



Campbell spent eight full seasons with the Lakers before being traded midseason to the Charlotte Hornets in 1999. A prominent contributor, he was a key part of LA's early squads featuring Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, who both arrived ahead of the 1996–97 season.



Exploring Elden Campbell’s complicated and underrated legacy with the Los Angeles Lakers

Elden Campbell, a long-time NBA center, has died, according to several reports. The 7-footer attended Morningside High School in Inglewood before being drafted by the Lakers from Clemson University in 1990.



Clemson confirmed his death, as first reported by the Los Angeles Times, in a social media post. He played four seasons for the Tigers and is still their all-time leading scorer. While Campbell was a crucial role in the 1990s Lakers roster, providing both scoring and shot-blocking, he never became the superstar many expected, and as a result, his contract is generally recognized as one of the franchise's rare financial mistakes.



Campbell attended Morningside High School before attending Clemson University, where he averaged 15.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game over four seasons, establishing himself as a defensive force.










In the 1990 NCAA Tournament, Campbell's Clemson squad nearly fell to Connecticut despite defending Tate George's last-second full-court shot. Later the following year, the Lakers selected him as the 27th overall choice in the NBA Draft.



Campbell wasn't a horrible player by any means; he led the Lakers in scoring from 1990-91 to 1998-99, but while fans praised his consistent effort and defensive presence, his performance ultimately failed to meet the lofty expectations of money.



He was a part of the 2003-04 Detroit Pistons, who defeated the Lakers in a five-game NBA Finals upset to earn his sole championship. He finished his career with Detroit, leaving a legacy as a senior defender and dependable team player, but in Bleach Report's opinion, the Lakers' biggest financial error.



Magic Johnson shares heartfelt tribute after Elden Campbell’s heartbreaking passing

During his 15-year NBA career, he also played for the Charlotte, Seattle Supersonics, and New Jersey Nets. In a social media post, the Lakers icon honored Campbell, with whom he played for two seasons and coached during his brief tenure as head coach of the team in 1993-94.



Johnson said in a post to X:



"I just received devastating news that my former Lakers teammate and friend Elden Campbell has passed away. He was such a gentle soul… As a basketball player, he was extremely athletic. I loved throwing lobs to Elden because he could jump out the gym and had so much talent! Cookie and I are praying for his family and Lakers Nation as they mourn during this difficult time. Rest in peace Big E!"



The cause of Campbell's death is currently unknown. Campbell's former teammates began expressing tribute on Tuesday, followed by Magic Johnson's tweet on Wednesday morning, in which he revealed that he had "just received" the "devastating news" of his former Lakers teammate's death.





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