On March 12, Beijing time, 71-year-old former NBA player Junior Bridgeman passed away, and both Bucks and NBA officials issued messages of condolences. Bridgeman is an NBA business legend who bought a 10% stake in the Bucks last September and became the team's small owner. Bridgeman died of a sudden illness at a fundraiser held at the Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville.

Bridgeman's NBA career has not been outstanding, earning a cumulative salary of less than $1 million, but now he is worth more than $1.4 billion, making him undoubtedly a business legend in the NBA.

Bridgeman played 12 seasons in the NBA, playing for the Bucks and Clippers as a small forward and did not receive any individual accolades. His best season was averaging 17.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game.

The only thing that stood out about Bridgeman's playing career. It was he who had just been drafted by the Lakers and traded to the Bucks as one of the bargaining chips in the trade for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was such an inconspicuous player with extraordinary business acumen. Although his career salary is less than 1 million, he is good at managing money and investing.

How did he become a billionaire with a net worth of 1.4 billion? When Bridgman was younger, he was very optimistic about the prospects of the burger chain Wendys, so he used his income to buy Wendys's chain. At that time, the brand was still very young and the investment threshold was low, so the chain of stores owned by Bridgeman continued to increase. In an interview, Bridgeman has shared his experience of running a fast-food chain, which he believes is similar to playing basketball, which emphasizes teamwork. This is also something that he often emphasises among his staff, he is a very studious person, and when he was a player, he often interacted with various businessmen and learned how they made money.

At its peak, Bridgeman had more than 450 restaurants. In 2016, Bridgeman became a Coca-Cola bottling distributor. Later, he also bought two magazines and invested in more areas. In 2024, Bridgeman is optimistic about the Bucks' prospects and becomes the small owner of this team.

NBA commissioner Adam Shaw wrote in an official statement: "I am deeply saddened to learn of Bridgeman's sudden passing. Bridgeman is the ultimate entrepreneur who has become a highly respected and successful business leader with his 12-year NBA career. He has been a mentor to generations of NBA players who are eager to learn from him how to thrive in the business world. Bridgeman has been a loyal member of the NBA family for 50 years, most recently becoming a small owner of the Bucks, an investor in NBA Africa, and as a player, setting an example for representing the league and our game. Our heartfelt condolences to Bridgeman's wife, Doris, their children Eden, Ustin and Ryan, the Bucks, and his many friends and admirers in the basketball community. ”