A Final Four appearance, 12 NBA seasons, and an unparalleled empire that came full circle – those were the things that made Junior Bridgeman unforgettable. The Milwaukee Bucks legend passed away on Tuesday at 71. The TNT Tuesday crew was among the first to react to the devastating news. But it was Shaquille O’Neal who was struck hard. Bridgeman’s friendship with the TNT crew, especially Shaq and Chuck, went way back to their NBA careers. As with both players turned businessmen, Junior Bridgeman became an inspiration.

The Bucks as well as the mayor of Louisville, announced his passing after Bridgeman suffered a medical emergency at a fundraiser in Louisville. According to a report from WLKY-TV, a reporter was speaking with Bridgeman, 71, when he “expressed that he thought he was having a heart attack.” Shaquille O’Neal reacted to the news with solemn reverence on TNT’s pre-game show. “This one really hit hard for me,” he started. “A lot of people don’t know this but I’ve patterned my whole business acumen after Junior Bridgeman.”

He went on to say that in order to not become another statistic, he modeled himself after Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. When Forbes covered Junior Bridgeman’s billion dollar empire, Shaq reached out to him to pick his brain. O’Neal admits copying Junior’s blueprint, including starting Big Chicken due to Bridgeman’s Wendy’s investment.

“I just actually talked to him other day to get ready to do business,” Shaq stated. He didn’t specify what the business was or if it would go ahead now. “My condolences go out to his partners, to Charles, his families, his daughter, his son.” Bridgeman is survived by his wife, Doris, and his children, Eden, Justin, and Ryan. During the tribute, Shaquille O’Neal also gave credit for his partnership with the $1.5 billion brand to the Bucks legend.

“He opened the book and… matter of fact he was ‘I’ll help you, I’ll make a call for you.’ It’s actually how I got into Papa John’s also cause he lives in Louisville and he knew it. He’s definitely a dear friend.” In 2019, Papa John’s reputation was declining, and Shaquille O’Neal received an endorsement royalty, stock, and a place on the board. The news caught Big Aristotle by surprise, and he admitted being late for the shoot. “I got the news at home and I had to sit down for a while. I actually forgot we got to work. That’s why I was kind of running late. ”

One of Shaquille O’Neal mentors expressed sadness and celebrated the Louisville alum

Bridgeman scored 1,348 points in three seasons with the Cardinals. The program won 72 of 89 games, and he led the team to the 1975 Final Four. The Lakers selected him 8th in the NBA draft, but he was part of the four-player package trade to Milwaukee for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. For the Bucks, he would spend 10 seasons out of his 12 and played in 711 career games. This makes him the third in franchise history behind only current Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.

He would return to the NBA—this time as an owner. In September 2024, he purchased a 10% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks, and the team’s valuation at the time was $4 billion. As Shaquille O’Neal said, the business acumen of Bridgeman was second to none. Even Magic Johnson agreed as he penned a long and heartfelt message for his friend. “I’m saddened to hear of the passing of my friend, Junior Bridgeman. I had the privilege of playing against him…”

On X, the Lakers legend continued, “What people don’t realize is Junior didn’t make a fortune as a player, but he turned what he earned into something extraordinary, becoming a billionaire African American businessman in this country.” The 5x NBA champion also explained he would reference the Bucks legend’s journey to the young athletes. “I always reference your journey when I speak to young athletes about transitioning from the court or field to the boardroom.”

He is only one of 4 NBA stars who have leaped the billionaire mark. The list includes Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, and Junior Bridgeman. Let’s not forget that he never made more than $350,000 in a single season. That is why he is one of the role models not only for the current generation of players but even for Shaquille O’Neal.