Former NBA player and billionaire -businessman Junior Bridgeman died at the age of 71 after a medical emergency during a public event in Louisville on Tuesday.
Junior Bridgeman suffered a medical emergency during an interview for the Lincoln Heritage Council, Scouting America
Bridgeman participated in an interview during a benefit lunch for the Lincoln Heritage Council, Scouting America in the Galt House Hotel when it took place, according to Wlky.
While he spoke with a WLKY anchor, Bridgeman said he thought he had a heart attack. When medical emergency help services arrived, he was removed in an ambulance.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver today issued the following statement about the death of Milwaukee Bucks Minority Owner, NBA Africa Investor and former NBA player Junior Bridgeman. pic.twitter.com/bvpjodkah8
– NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2025
As a 6-foot-5 guard/attacker, Bridgeman was the eighth generally chosen by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1975 NBA design from the University of Louisville. However, he was part of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Blockbuster Trade a few weeks later.
On June 16, 1975, the Lakers Bridgeman, Dave Meyers, Elmore Smith and Brian Winters traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley.
Milwaukee Bucks has released a statement
The bucks have issued the following statement:
“The Milwaukee Bucks are shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Bucks Legend and owner Junior Bridgeman. Junior’s retired no. 2 Sweater hangs on Fiserv Forum and serves as a constant memory of his excellent game on the field and his impact on the success of the bucks. “
We are shocked and sad by the tragic death of Bucks Legend and owner Junior Bridgeman. We send our deepest condolences to his family. pic.twitter.com/xakotcdef5
– Milwaukee Bucks (@bucks) March 11, 2025
“His hard work and perseverance led him to become one of the best managers in the country and last September the professional life of Junior Circle came when he returned to the Bucks family as the owner. His memory will always be an inspiration for the Bucks organization, “the NBA team added.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of Junior, and we send our deepest participation to his wife, his children, Eden, Justin and Ryan, his whole family and all that close to him.”
Junior Bridgeman played for 12 years in the NBA
Bridgeman played 10 seasons with the Bucks from 1975-84 and 1986-87, on average double digits in scoring for eight consecutive seasons and helped the team reach the play-offs eight times.
Moreover, Bridgeman also spent two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers from 1984-86. He returned to Milwaukee for the 1986-87 season, where he closed his 12-year career.
Shaq reflects on the death of his friend, @Bucks Legend and owner Junior Bridgeman ❤️ pic.twitter.com/yidzqhqr4r
– NBA on tnt (@nbaontnt) March 11, 2025
In 849 career NBA NBA regular season matches (52 starts), Bridgeman had an average of 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 25 minutes per match. He also shot 47.5% out of the field and 84.6% on the free throw line.
Bridgeman retired for each basketball reference after 711 games for the Bucks franchise. That was the record of all time until Giannis Antetokounmpo surpassed it in 2023.
Bridgeman’s no. 2 Sweater was retired in 1988 by the Bucks.
Bridgeman bought a ownership interest of 10% in the bucks
In September, Junior Bridgeman bought a 10% interest in the bucks. He reportedly received a preferred limited partner discount of 15%, or a rating of $ 3.4 billion to buy part of the team.
Bridgeman went from making less than $ 300,000 per season in the NBA to a billionaire and minority owner of the bucks.
“So, when this opportunity introduced itself, it just seemed like a natural thing for me to get the chance not to be in the heart alone, but physically in the future,” he said then.
According to a recent profile of ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, the resident of East Chicago has a capacity of almost $ 600 million. His business deals include Heartland Coca-Cola, the restaurants of Wendy and Chile, together with Ebony and Jet magazines.
In 2016, Forbes Bridgeman ranked the fourth-richest retired athlete in the world, with an estimated income of $ 32 million. He was alone behind Michael Jordan, David Beckham and Arnold Palmer.
