The Milwaukee Bucks today mourn one of their own. Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman, the man who became a prominent part of the franchise after the mid-’70s, passed away a few hours ago. According to reports, the 71-year-old had a medical emergency during a luncheon at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. After being transported from the scene by ambulance, he was later confirmed to have passed.

No sooner did the news break when tributes started to come in from all sides. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers opened his pregame press conference in Indianapolis by stating, “Just really a dark day, a tough day, losing Junior”. Rivers even reportedly paused to compose himself after getting emotional. Magic Johnson paid tribute to his former on-court rival on X by writing, “But it was his character, his kindness, and his gentle soul that truly left a lasting impression on me. He was one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet”.

The NBA enthusiasts of today’s era were not so aware of the former player because of what he did half a century ago. Rather, they knew him more as the man who was amongst the richest NBA players of all time, amassing a net worth of a whopping $1.4 billion before his passing. Pretty impressive, considering that his salary for his final year as a player back in 1987 was $350,000.

Therefore, without any further ado, let us get to know more about this NBA legend.

Where is Junior Bridgeman from? Where was the Bucks legend born?

Ulysses Lee Bridgeman Jr. came from a humble background. He was born in East Chicago, Indiana, back in September 1953 to Ulysses Lee Bridgeman and a woman whose name has not been made public knowledge yet. According to Fortune, Junior’s father was a steel mill worker. Back then, in his hometown of East Chicago, the country’s largest steel mill was the dominant industry, and occupied much of the Lake Michigan coast. In fact, two generations of Bridgeman had worked in the mill. However, Ulysses Lee Bridgeman wanted a different life for his son. Therefore, Junior’s attention was diverted away from the mill and into the books. Soon, the future NBA star transitioned from a student to a student athlete.

“There was nothing growing up in my life through that time that indicated I’d get a basketball scholarship,” said Junior in an interview when recalling his childhood. However, by his senior year at Washington High, Bridgeman had helped his school team in securing a 29–0 run. On top of that, the team also won the 1971 Indiana state championship. Therefore, lo-and-behold, a prestigious university offered Junior a scholarship. He grabbed it and went on to carve a successful three-season long career there that later opened a path to the NBA.

Which college did Junior Bridgmen attend? When was he drafted in the NBA?

As mentioned above, Junior Bridgeman eventually went on to play for three seasons at the University of Louisville. Between 1972 and 1975, the athlete played in a total of 87 games and averaged 15.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. On the shooting front, he averaged 6.1-11.8 (51.7%) field goals and 3.3-4.3 (77%) free throws.

A 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall guard / forward, Bridgeman’s presence with the Louisville Cardinals men’s basketball team boosted the squad. After all, the athlete was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 1974 and 1975. This was thanks to him leading the Louisville Cardinals to the 1974 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament as a junior. As a senior, he managed to help the Cardinals to the Final Four of the 1975 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. Unfortunately, the Cardinals basketball team lost to UCLA in the national semifinal that season.

Among Bridgeman’s teammates were his brother Sam, and future star athletes Pete Trgovich and Tim Stoddard.

When he was off the court, Bridgeman continued to keep to his books. He studied for the LSAT to secure a degree in psychology. However, things changed when the NBA came knocking.

Junior Bridgeman became the 8th pick by the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1975 NBA Draft. Knowing how things would go on to be for the Lakers in the coming years, Bridgeman was at the right place to cement a successful NBA legacy. However, just 3 weeks after the draft, he was traded by the Lakers! Bridgeman, David Meyers, Elmore Smith, and Brian Winters were all sent to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley.

Fortunately, whatever happened was for the best. Bridgeman never won an NBA championship with the Milwaukee Bucks, or with the LA Clippers, for whom he played from 1984 to 1986. However, he averaged 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists throughout 849 games. Eventually, his No 2 jersey was retired by the Bucks in 1988. Although he might not have made enough from the league to ensure a secure future, Bridgeman made sure that his post-retirement life would be the opposite. As it turned out, it was better.

How did Junior Bridgeman amass a $1.4 billion net worth after retirement?

Junior Bridgeman held business aspirations even during his NBA tenure. Bridgeman reportedly started inquiring about restaurants in the late 1970s. He might have been inspired by then-Milwaukee Bucks general manager Wayne Embry, who operated several McDonald’s franchises in the area.

Bridgeman began investing in Wendy’s franchises during his NBA career. After retiring from the NBA in 1987, the Bucks offered Bridgeman an assistant general manager position. He declined it. Instead, he opened a Wendy’s franchise in Brooklyn with ex-NBA forward Paul Silas, who was reportedly a good friend. Together, they initially invested about $100,000. The first franchise was a bust, and the duo lost about $150,000 altogether. While Silas went on to resume a coaching career in the NBA, the Bucks legend joined a Wendy’s training program. He spent months visiting other franchises to work out the chinks in the armor. Then, in 1988, he invested his remaining NBA savings of $750,000 to buy five Wendy’s locations in Milwaukee.

As former Bucks guard Sidney Moncrief recalled, “He’d be working in the restaurant like he was an hourly worker. I witnessed that. I was thinking, what the heck is he doing in there flipping burgers, washing dishes, and he had those work pants on. But he understood the value of learning thoroughly what you’re investing in — very, very hands on.”

In time, Junior Bridgeman brought 16 more Wendy’s in Milwaukee. He added more franchises in Madison, and then added more out of state to Louisville, Nashville, Tennessee, and Florida. By the end of it, Bridgeman operated 450 restaurants between Wendy’s and Chili’s in 20 states. He managed them through his Bridgeman Foods Inc./Manna Hospitality Group empire. The former player’s net worth rose to $600 million. Bridgeman’s years-long partnership with Coca-Cola allowed him to eventually form the Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company in February 2017.

Later, Bridgeman expanded outside of fast food by forming the Bridgeman Sports and Media Company. In September 2024, he returned to the NBA by purchasing a 10% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks. By including the earnings from all of his businesses, Bridgeman’s net worth before his passing was placed at a reported $1.4 billion. This placed him as the 3rd richest retired NBA player, right behind Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.

From the Milwaukee Bucks to Wendy’s and other fast-food chains, Junior Bridgeman cemented a legacy that will be remembered for years to come. As he is no longer a part of the mortal world, we cherish the fact that a determined individual like him was ever amongst us. We cherish that he left important lessons that can be picked up by not only basketball enthusiasts but also business aspirants around the world.