Junior Bridgeman, businessman and basketball outstanding for Louisville and Milwaukee Bucks, dies at 71

Louisville, Ky. (AP) – Junior Bridgeman, a basketball outstanding who led Louisville to a final Four, played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA and then started an even more successful career as a businessman with operations in restaurants, publishing and Bucks Franchise, died on Tuesday. He was 71.

Bridgeman was a popular game in Louisville after his match days, and Mayor Craig Greenberg announced his death that the city had “lost a friendly, generous and groundbreaking legend”.

“He was an all-American at U of L … and a self-made billionaire,” said Greenberg in a statement. “Nevertheless, I will remember Junior Bridgeman most because of his calm, effective help for others in need” as well as his love for his family and his “never ending support for our community”.

Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican in Kentucky, praised his friend as a very successful businessman and spacious philanthropic, who loved his Alma Mater and “the city he called at home”.

According to media reports, Bridgeman suffered a medical emergency in a hotel in Louisville during a fundraiser on Tuesday.

Tribute received for a man who had emerged on the hardwood and in corporate trees.

“Junior was the ultimate entrepreneur who set up on his effective 12-year NBA career by becoming a highly respected and successful company manager,” said NBA commissioner Adam Silver in a statement. “He served as a mentor for generations of NBA players and athletes in athletes who absolutely wanted to learn from him what it takes to thrive in the business world.”

Bridgeman, born from East Chicago, Indiana, played for the Hall of Fame trainer Denny Crum in Louisville. In three seasons he scored 1,348 points, got 657 rebounds and in his senior season led the Cardinals to the 1975 final four, where they lost to the later national champion UCLA in a 75-74 thriller.

At the beginning of his professional career, Bridgeman was involved in one of the largest shops in NBA history. After the Los Angeles Lakers Bridgeman had selected with the eighth election in 1975, they sent him to the west coast as part of the trade to Milwaukee, the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Bridgemans 711 games played for Milwaukee for Milwaukee, ranked in the Franchise story, behind only Giannis Antetocounmpo and Khris Middleton. His jersey No. 2 was retired by the Bucks in 1988.

“His hard work and perseverance prompted him to be one of the best managing directors of the nation and last September the Junior’s professional life closed the circle when he returned to the Bucks family,” said Bucks in a statement. “His memory will always be an inspiration for the Bucks organization.”

The Bucks announced that Bridgeman had bought a participation in the team Last year at a press conference, which co -owner Jimmy Haslam, coach Doc Rivers, General Manager Jon Horst and many players included. Bridgeman then said he had a share of 10%.

“The opportunity to deal with the team again in other ways and to use it was something that was a dream,” said Bridgeman at the time.

Before Milwaukee’s game on Tuesday evening, Rivers said Bridgeman was a strong model.

“Think of this child who grew up and wants to be an NBA player, probably his dream, and he has transformed this dream into NBA owners,” said Rivers. “He is the exact model that the league should use every day when you speak to our young players.”

Bridgeman played for the Bucks from 1975 to 1984 and then spent two years with the Los Angeles Clipperers before returning to Milwaukee for his last NBA season in 1986-87. In his career, he scored 11,517 points (average 13.6 per game). In the history of the Bucks in field gates (4,142) he occupies seventh place in Bucks history (4,142), ninth place in points (9.892) and the 10th in minutes (18.054).

After his game days, Bridgeman converted the same trip into a successful business career.

“While his game was unusual on the pitch, it was the leading provider of the business world that really excellent Junior,” said Kim Schatzel, President of the University of Louisville.

Bridgeman was a long -time franchisee for Wendys and Chilis Restaurants, who operated more than 450 locations in 20 states, the university said. He became a bottler for Coca-Cola and bought Ebony and Jet Magazine, said the school.

“I had the privilege of playing against him and I will never forget how he had one of the sweetest jump shots in the NBA.

Bridgeman was part of the Viers, the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. Among other things, he worked in the committees of the Churchill Downs Racetrack, the University of Louisville and the Fifth Third Bank. He and his wife Doris organized a Kentucky Derby party, which served as a fundraiser.

“He is the blueprint for so many current and former athletes about sport that success does not end when they are finished with playing,” wrote Johnson.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by children Eden, Justin and Ryan.

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