NBA veteran Junior Bridgeman passed away on Tuesday at the age of 71 after collapsing at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville. Bridgeman was at a luncheon for the Lincoln Heritage Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Bridgeman was drafted eighth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975. He averaged 17.6 points in 28.6 minutes per game in 81 games in 1979-80 with the Milwaukee Bucks, the best season of his career. Over his 12 seasons with the Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers, Bridgeman averaged 13.6 points in 25 minutes per game on 48 percent shooting.
Despite a productive NBA career, Bridgeman carved a legacy post-career as a successful businessman.
Bridgeman had his own food company, Bridgeman Foods, which, until 2016, operated over 450 Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants in 20 states. He purchased a 10% stake in the Bucks in September of 2024. He was also capital campaign co-Chair for the African American Heritage Foundation.
In college, Bridgeman was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 1974-75, leading the Louisville Cardinals to the ‘75 Final Four.
His No. 2 jersey was retired by the Bucks in 1988, and his 711 games are the third-most in franchise history.
RIP, Junior Bridgeman.
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