A cause of death has been revealed for former Lakers player Elden Campbell, who grew up in Inglewood and went on to play for 8 1\/2 seasons with his hometown team.<\/p>\n
Campbell’s cause of death Monday at age 57<\/a> in Pompano Beach, Florida, was due to drowning, according to the Broward County Office of Medical Examiner and Trauma Services. The manner of death was listed as an accident.<\/p>\n In a statement earlier this week, Campbell’s family said he was fishing at the time of this death.<\/p>\n “Elden was a man of faith who trusted in his lord and savior Jesus Christ. Husband, father, brother, cousin and friend,” the family said in the statement<\/a>. “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.”<\/p>\n No further details about what led to Campbell’s death were immediately available.<\/p>\n Campbell is survived by his wife, four children and siblings.<\/p>\n Known as a gentle giant, Campbell played at Morningside High School before becoming the all-time leading scorer at Clemson in South Carolina. He was drafted 27th overall by the Lakers in 1990 and played alongside franchise greats Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. <\/p>\n He won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons. <\/p>\n Campbell also spent time with the New Orleans Hornets, Seattle Supersonics and New Jersey Nets before retiring in 2005. <\/p>\n He averaged 14.9 points per game with the Lakers. His best statistical season came in 1999-2000 with the Charlotte Hornets when he averaged 15.3 points and 9.4 rebounds.<\/p>\n Tributes from athletes, coaches and more followed word of Campbell’s death.<\/p>\n