Former college star, NBA player and Milwaukee Bucks part-owner Junior Bridgeman collapsed and died on Tuesday. He was 71.
Bridgeman had a medical emergency while at a luncheon at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky. He reportedly told a reporter he thought he was having a heart attack. First responders were summoned and he was transported from the scene by ambulance.
The Al J. Schneider Company, which owns the hotel, confirmed Bridgeman’s death on Tuesday evening.
“Junior Bridgeman was an integral part of our community. From his athletic impact to his philanthropic efforts, he will be deeply missed,” Lance George, chief marketing officer, said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Bridgeman family during this time.”
Bridgeman was a billionaire entrepreneur and a big name in Louisville in addition to his basketball exploits.
Just six months ago, he purchased a 10 percent ownership stake in the Bucks. He reportedly bought it at a $3.4 billion valuation.
“The Milwaukee Bucks are shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Bucks legend and owner Junior Bridgeman,” the Bucks said in a statement. Junior’s retired No. 2 jersey hangs in Fiserv Forum, serving as a constant remembrance of his outstanding play on the court and his impact on the Bucks’ success.
“His hard work and perseverance led him to become one of the nation’s top business leaders and, last September, Junior’s professional life came full circle when he returned to the Bucks family as an owner. His memory will always be an inspiration to the Bucks organization.”
Bridgeman arrived on the scene while playing for the University of Louisville for three seasons (1972-75) and was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year. He averaged 15.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 87 games. The Cardinals reached the Final Four in his last season, losing 75-74 in overtime to powerful UCLA.
In the NBA, Bridgeman spent 10 of his 12 seasons (1975-87) with the Bucks. He is the ninth-leading scorer in franchise history with 9,892 points and stands third in games played (711).
Bridgeman’s number was retired by the Bucks in 1988.
The eighth overall pick in the 1975 draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Bridgeman was traded to the Bucks less than three weeks later in the mega-deal that sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Southern California.
Bridgeman was a stellar sixth man during his NBA career and averaged 13.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 849 games (52 starts) with the Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers.
“I am devastated to learn of the sudden passing of Junior Bridgeman,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “Junior was the ultimate entrepreneur who built on his impactful 12-year NBA playing career by becoming a highly respected and successful business leader. He served as a mentor to generations of NBA players and athletes across sports who were eager to learn from him about what it takes to thrive in the business world.
“Junior was a dedicated member of the NBA family for 50 years – most recently as a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, an investor in NBA Africa and as a player who set the standard for representing the league and our game with class and dignity.”
Bridgeman began buying Wendy’s franchises during his playing career, eventually owning 360 Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants after retiring. In 2016, he sold them and took over a Coca-Cola bottling franchise. Per S&P Global Market Intelligence, Bridgeman is the sole owner of the bottle, which rakes in at least $350 million in revenue every year.
Bridgeman bought the publications Ebony and Jet in 2020 and owns Coca-Cola Bottling of Canada, which he acquired with Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in 2018.
–Field Level Media
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