Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin, the NBA and the business world have lost an icon.

Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman will forever be etched in the annals of Milwaukee Bucks history—not just as a talented athlete, but as a beacon of perseverance, intelligence, and triumph. Born on September 17, 1953, in East Chicago, Indiana, Bridgeman’s story is one of quiet excellence, both on the hardwood and in the world beyond basketball. Earlier today, the world lost this remarkable man at age 71, when he reportedly suffered a medical emergency and passed away after Boy Scouts luncheon in Louisville, Kentucky.

Junior Bridgeman’s basketball journey kicked off at Washington High School in Indiana, where he powered a flawless 1971 state championship team to a 29-0 record—a glimpse of the heights he’d later reach. His talent landed him at the University of Louisville, where he sharpened his game under Coach Denny Crum. Wearing the Cardinals’ red, Bridgeman excelled, racking up 15.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game across 87 contests. His third year pushed Louisville into the 1974 NCAA Tournament, and as a senior, he drove the squad to the 1975 Final Four, only to taste a bitter 75-74 semifinal defeat to UCLA. In the Missouri Valley Conference, he ruled the roost, earning Player of the Year titles in 1974 and 1975, locking in his reputation as a college standout.

In 1975, the Los Angeles Lakers picked Bridgeman 8th overall in the NBA Draft, but his story took a sharp turn. Weeks later, a massive trade sent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to LA and delivered Bridgeman—along with David Meyers, Elmore Smith, and Brian Winters—to Milwaukee. Here in America’s Dairyland with the Bucks, he built his legacy over ten seasons (1975-1984, 1986-1987), with a two-year Clippers stint in between. At 6’5”, he reshaped the sixth-man role, blending steady scoring with grit. Across 849 NBA games, 711 in a Bucks jersey—a team record until Giannis Antetokounmpo came along—he averaged 13.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

For nine straight years, he hit double figures in scoring, and in 1988, Milwaukee rightfully retired his No. 2 jersey. With teammates like Sidney Moncrief and Marques Johnson, Bridgeman fueled deep playoff runs in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, though Boston and Philadelphia giants kept a title out of reach.

Still, Bridgeman’s tale didn’t end on the court—it exploded into something bigger. Never pulling in more than $350,000 a year as a player, he turned that into a goldmine through sharp instincts and hard work. During summers, he clocked hours at Wendy’s, learning the fast-food game from the bottom up. When he retired in 1987, he jumped in, growing Bridgeman Foods into a juggernaut with over 160 Wendy’s and 120 Chili’s restaurants all across the U.S. He cashed out in 2016, then flipped the script again, diving into Coca-Cola bottling. By 2023, his Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company was closing in on $1 billion in revenue.

In 2020, he shelled out $14 million for Ebony and Jet magazines, determined to breathe new life into their storied pages.

His wealth, pegged at $600 million—maybe even $1.4 billion by Forbes’ count—put him in rare company with former athletes like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. In September 2024, Bridgeman circled back to Milwaukee, buying a 10% stake in the Bucks at a $4 billion valuation. With a 15% discount as a preferred limited partner, he dropped $340 million to join Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, Jamie Dinan, and Mike Fascitelli in the ownership circle. At the announcement, he stood tall, his return to the franchise he once defined a full-circle moment.

Off the court, Bridgeman’s heart showed through. Tied to Louisville’s Southeast Christian Church and a steady hand on the Simmons College of Kentucky Board of Trustees, he gave back with purpose. His three kids, all with MBAs, now follow in their father’s footsteps.

Junior Bridgeman’s certainly will be missed by so many whose lives he touched. His own life was a masterclass in turning opportunity into a legacy. From the courts of Indiana and Kentucky to the rafters of Milwaukee, and from fast-food counters to the Bucks’ ownership suite, he exemplified what it means to dream big, work hard and and achieve greatness.

His passing leaves a void, but his story remains an inspiration.