Multiple former NBA basketball stars have died fairly young lately.
Former NBA All-Star Michael Ray Richardson died in early November at age 70 after a prostate cancer diagnosis. Wake Forest legend Rodney Rodgers, 54, died on November 21. The cause of death was natural causes due to a spinal cord injury. Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens, who also died in November 2025, lived longer. He was 88 when he passed away.
Now, another NBA great has died: Former Los Angeles Lakers and Clemson star Elden Campbell. He was 57. According to the Post and Courier, the cause of death is unknown.
Campbell won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons, but he was better known for his time with the Lakers, where he played nine seasons alongside Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. He also played for Charlotte, the Post and Courier reported.
Former colleagues on the court offered tributes to Campbell as word of his death spread.
“I just remember his demeanor. That’s why we nicknamed him ‘Easy E,’ ” former Laker Byron Scott told The Los Angeles Times. “He was just so cool, nothing speeding him up. He was going to take his time. He was just easy. He was such a good dude. I loved Easy, man.”
He added: “He just wanted to play. He didn’t work out until his contract was up and he got ready to try to get another one. He didn’t put that time in, but he had some skills. He was big and strong and could jump out of the gym. He had that nice little turnaround jump shot. He didn’t want to be great, to be honest with you. He just wanted to play. But what a good guy.”
"This one hurt to the bone," wrote former NBA player Cedric Ceballos on his Instagram page. "Grew up as kids together. Rest BIG EASY."