Elden Campbell
Encyclopedia
Elden Jerome Campbell is a retired American
professional basketball
player who played center
in the National Basketball Association
(NBA).
in Inglewood, California
before playing college basketball at Clemson University
. During his four years at Clemson, he averaged 15.3 points per game, 6.8 rebounds
per game and 2.7 blocks
. His college team was involved in one of the most notable plays in college basketball
history - a one-point loss in the 1990 NCAA Tournament to a Connecticut
team following a miraculous full-court catch-and-shoot play by Tate George
with one second on the clock. That same year, the Los Angeles Lakers
drafted Campbell with the 27th pick in the 1990 NBA Draft
.
On March 10, 1999, Campbell was traded by the Lakers along with Eddie Jones
to the Charlotte Hornets for Glen Rice
, J.R. Reid and B.J. Armstrong. His longest tenures were with the Lakers and the Hornets (in Charlotte
and New Orleans); he would also play with the Seattle SuperSonics
and briefly for the New Jersey Nets
, spending most of the final two seasons of his career as a member of the Detroit Pistons
, being on roster in the 2004 NBA Championship team
. During his tenure with the Pistons, perhaps his most important contribution was playing excellent defense on star center Shaquille O'Neal
in the two playoff series in which the Pistons engaged O'Neal's teams (the Lakers in the 2004 finals, the Miami Heat
in the 2005 NBA Eastern Conference Finals
); because of his enormous bulk and strength, he presented a unique challenge to O'Neal in the low post and was one of the few NBA players who could pose a serious physical challenge to O'Neal on defense.
His 15-year career comprised 1,044 games, of which he started 671, and 106 playoff games, of which he started 53. In 15 seasons, Campbell averaged 10.3 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game and 1.5 blocks. He is especially known for his shot-blocking ability, with 1,602 career blocks.
Notably, Campbell is the Los Angeles Lakers' leading scorer for the decade of 1990-1999.http://www.realsportsdawgz.com/2010/01/lakers-through-decades-top-scorers.html
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who played center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
in the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA).
Playing Career
Campbell attended Morningside High SchoolMorningside High School
Morningside High is a public high school in Inglewood, California.-History:In 1951, the first two classes of students came to the Morningside Park area of Inglewood to attend the new Morningside High School. Incoming 9th graders came from the surrounding junior high schools, and a class of 10th...
in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
before playing college basketball at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
. During his four years at Clemson, he averaged 15.3 points per game, 6.8 rebounds
Rebound (sports)
Rebound is a term used in sports to describe the ball becoming available for possession by either opponent after an attempt to put the ball or puck into the goal has been unsuccessful...
per game and 2.7 blocks
Block (basketball)
In basketball, a block , not to be confused with blocking, occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender must not touch the offensive player's hands or otherwise a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot...
. His college team was involved in one of the most notable plays in college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
history - a one-point loss in the 1990 NCAA Tournament to a Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
team following a miraculous full-court catch-and-shoot play by Tate George
Tate George
Tate Claude George is an American businessman and former professional basketball player who was selected by the New Jersey Nets with the 22nd overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft from the University of Connecticut...
with one second on the clock. That same year, the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
drafted Campbell with the 27th pick in the 1990 NBA Draft
1990 NBA Draft
The 1990 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1990, in New York City, New York. This draft produced only one perennial All-Star,Gary Payton. Among the 54 picks, Payton is considered by far the best pick of the draft. Payton went on to be considered one of the greatest point guards of all time...
.
On March 10, 1999, Campbell was traded by the Lakers along with Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones (basketball)
Eddie Charles Jones is an American former professional basketball player. Jones played college basketball at Temple University and was the 1993–94 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year...
to the Charlotte Hornets for Glen Rice
Glen Rice
Glen Anthony Rice is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. The 6'8" tall Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star guard/forward, ranking 11th in NBA history with 1,559 three-point field goals made during his 15-year career. As a player, Rice won an NCAA Men's Division...
, J.R. Reid and B.J. Armstrong. His longest tenures were with the Lakers and the Hornets (in Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
and New Orleans); he would also play with the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
and briefly for the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, spending most of the final two seasons of his career as a member of the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
, being on roster in the 2004 NBA Championship team
2004 NBA Finals
The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference; the Lakers held home court advantage...
. During his tenure with the Pistons, perhaps his most important contribution was playing excellent defense on star center Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal , nicknamed "Shaq" , is a former American professional basketball player. Standing tall and weighing , he was one of the heaviest players ever to play in the NBA...
in the two playoff series in which the Pistons engaged O'Neal's teams (the Lakers in the 2004 finals, the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
in the 2005 NBA Eastern Conference Finals
NBA Conference Finals
The National Basketball Association Conference Finals are the Eastern Conference and Western Conference Championship series of the National Basketball Association , a major professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America...
); because of his enormous bulk and strength, he presented a unique challenge to O'Neal in the low post and was one of the few NBA players who could pose a serious physical challenge to O'Neal on defense.
His 15-year career comprised 1,044 games, of which he started 671, and 106 playoff games, of which he started 53. In 15 seasons, Campbell averaged 10.3 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game and 1.5 blocks. He is especially known for his shot-blocking ability, with 1,602 career blocks.
Notably, Campbell is the Los Angeles Lakers' leading scorer for the decade of 1990-1999.http://www.realsportsdawgz.com/2010/01/lakers-through-decades-top-scorers.html