Former school star, NBA participant and Milwaukee Bucks part-owner Junior Bridgeman collapsed and died on Tuesday. He was 71.
Bridgeman had a medical emergency whereas at a luncheon on the Galt Home Lodge in Louisville, Ky. He reportedly informed a reporter he thought he was having a coronary heart assault. First responders have been summoned and he was transported from the scene by ambulance.
The Al J. Schneider Firm, which owns the resort, confirmed Bridgeman’s dying on Tuesday night.
“Junior Bridgeman was an integral a part of our neighborhood. From his athletic affect to his philanthropic efforts, he will likely be deeply missed,” Lance George, chief advertising and marketing officer, stated in an announcement. “Our ideas and prayers exit to the Bridgeman household throughout this time.”
Bridgeman was a billionaire entrepreneur and a giant title in Louisville along with his basketball exploits.
Simply six months in the past, he bought a ten p.c possession stake within the Bucks. He reportedly purchased it at a $3.4 billion valuation.
“The Milwaukee Bucks are shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Bucks legend and proprietor Junior Bridgeman,” the Bucks stated in an announcement. Junior’s retired No. 2 jersey hangs in Fiserv Discussion board, serving as a continuing remembrance of his excellent play on the courtroom and his affect on the Bucks’ success.
“His exhausting work and perseverance led him to turn into one of many nation’s prime enterprise leaders and, final September, Junior’s skilled life got here full circle when he returned to the Bucks household as an proprietor. His reminiscence will all the time be an inspiration to the Bucks group.”
We’re shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Bucks legend and proprietor Junior Bridgeman. We ship our deepest condolences to his household. pic.twitter.com/XakoTcDeF5
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 11, 2025
Bridgeman arrived on the scene whereas taking part in for the College of Louisville for 3 seasons (1972-75) and was a two-time Missouri Valley Convention Participant of the 12 months. He averaged 15.5 factors, 7.6 rebounds and a couple of.7 assists in 87 video games. The Cardinals reached the Remaining 4 in his final season, shedding 75-74 in additional time to highly effective UCLA.
Within the NBA, Bridgeman spent 10 of his 12 seasons (1975-87) with the Bucks. He’s the ninth-leading scorer in franchise historical past with 9,892 factors and stands third in video games performed (711).
Bridgeman’s quantity was retired by the Bucks in 1988.
The eighth general choose within the 1975 draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Bridgeman was traded to the Bucks lower than three weeks later within the mega-deal that despatched Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Southern California.
Bridgeman was a stellar sixth man throughout his NBA profession and averaged 13.6 factors and three.5 rebounds in 849 video games (52 begins) with the Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers.
Bridgeman started shopping for Wendy’s franchises throughout his taking part in profession, finally proudly owning 360 Wendy’s and Chili’s eating places after retiring. In 2016, he bought them and took over a Coca-Cola bottling franchise. Per S&P International Market Intelligence, Bridgeman is the only proprietor of the bottle, which rakes in a minimum of $350 million in income yearly.
Bridgeman purchased 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 activities & Leisure in 2018.
–Discipline Degree Media