NBA star Elden Campbell’s cause of death has been revealed.
Campbell died “due to a drowning” on Monday, December 1, according to Thomas Steinkamp, the chief of investigative services for Broward County, confirmed to People on Thursday, December 4. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed to the outlet that Campbell’s death was accidental. He was 57. (TMZ was the first to report the news.)
Campbell’s sister, Sandra, shared details of her brother’s death with The New York Post on Wednesday, December 3, revealing that he was out on the water “fishing” and collapsed after returning to land on Monday.
“It was all the sudden,” she told the outlet, noting that her brother “wasn’t sick.”
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Sandra added that she did not want to speculate about the exact cause of the sports star’s death, but the loss is felt by their entire family.
“He was such a big pillar and a staple to our family,” she said. “He’s going to be terribly missed.”
Campbell is survived by his wife, Rosemary, their four children, Jay Lee, Jael, Ariel and Aaron, his sister, Sandra, and brothers Elwayne and Charles Jr.
Following his death, Campbell’s family released an official statement addressing the news.
“Elden was a man of faith who trusted in his lord and savior Jesus Christ. Husband, father, brother, cousin and friend,” the statement read. “He was a man to whom family meant everything — generous, funny, disciplined and kind, but could shut you down if required. A man of God, he passed doing what he loved; fishing out on the ocean, enjoying his idea of an ideal day.”
The longtime center played 15 seasons in the NBA spending most of his career alongside fellow Los Angeles Lakers stars Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant.
Campbell originally played high school basketball at Morningside High School in Inglewood. In 1990, he was drafted by the Lakers out of Clemson University.
Clemson University reacted to Campbell’s death via a social media post earlier this week after it was first reported by the L.A. Times.
“We mourn the loss of Elden Campbell, our all-time leading scorer, All-American and three-time All-ACC player, who passed away at the age of 57,” the post read.
Campbell’s former teammate Magic Johnson was among those to publicly pay tribute to the late NBA star, whose nickname was “Easy E” due to his style of play that looked effortless.
“I loved throwing lobs to Elden because he could jump out the gym and had so much talent!” Johnson, 66, wrote via X on Wednesday. “Cookie and I are praying for his family and Lakers Nation as they mourn during this difficult time. Rest in peace Big E!”
The Detroit Pistons, where Campbell played for two seasons, also released a statement commenting on the loss.
“The Detroit Pistons organization is deeply saddened and heartbroken by the news of Elden Campbell’s passing,” the statement read. “ A proud member of our 2004 NBA Championship team, Elden patrolled the paint with strength and skill, playing an important role during one of the most memorable chapters in franchise history.”
They continued, “Beyond his contributions on the court, Elden’s calm presence and warm personality made him beloved by teammates, fans, and the community alike. Our hearts and prayers are with Elden’s family and friends during this difficult time.”
