Junior Bridgeman

Ulysses Lee "Junior" Bridgeman Jr. (September 17, 1953 – March 11, 2025) was an American professional basketball player and businessman. Bridgeman played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers from 1975 until 1987. Following his career, Bridgeman owned hundreds of fast-food restaurants, became a Coca-Cola bottler and distributor, and acquired Ebony and Jet magazines. Despite never making more than $350,000 a season during his NBA career, Bridgeman had a net worth of over $1.4 billion, making him one of the wealthiest former athletes in the world.

Infobox

Born

(1953-09-17)September 17, 1953East Chicago, Indiana, U.S.

Died

March 11, 2025(2025-03-11) (aged 71)Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

Listed height

6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)

Listed weight

210 lb (95 kg)

High school

Washington (East Chicago, Indiana)

College

Louisville (1972–1975)

NBA draft

1975: 1st round, 8th overall pick

Drafted by

Los Angeles Lakers

Playing career

1975–1987

Position

Small forward / shooting guard

Number

1975–1984

Milwaukee Bucks

1984–1986

Los Angeles Clippers

1986–1987

Milwaukee Bucks

Points

11,517 (13.6 ppg)

Rebounds

2,995 (3.5 rpg)

Assists

2,066 (2.4 apg)

Tables

· NBA career statistics › Regular season

1975–76

Year

1975–76

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

20.3

FG%

439

3P%

–

FT%

795

RPG

3.6

APG

1.9

SPG

0.6

BPG

0.3

PPG

8.6

1976–77

Year

1976–77

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

29.4

FG%

449

3P%

000

FT%

864

RPG

5.1

APG

2.5

SPG

1.0

BPG

0.3

PPG

14.4

1977–78

Year

1977–78

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

22.9

FG%

503

3P%

000

FT%

810

RPG

3.5

APG

2.1

SPG

0.9

BPG

0.4

PPG

13.6

1978–79

Year

1978–79

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

23.9

FG%

506

3P%

000

FT%

829

RPG

3.6

APG

2.0

SPG

1.1

BPG

0.5

PPG

15.5

1979–80

Year

1979–80

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

28.6

FG%

478

3P%

185

FT%

865

RPG

3.7

APG

2.9

SPG

1.2

BPG

0.2

PPG

17.6

1980–81

Year

1980–81

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

28.8

FG%

487

3P%

143

FT%

884

RPG

3.8

APG

3.0

SPG

1.1

BPG

0.4

PPG

16.8

1981–82

Year

1981–82

Team

Milwaukee

MPG

22.5

FG%

483

3P%

444

FT%

864

RPG

3.0

APG

2.7

SPG

0.7

BPG

0.1

PPG

12.5

1982–83

Year

1982–83

Team

Milwaukee

MPG

26.5

FG%

492

3P%

077

FT%

837

RPG

3.5

APG

3.0

SPG

0.6

BPG

0.1

PPG

14.4

1983–84

Year

1983–84

Team

Milwaukee

MPG

30.0

FG%

465

3P%

194

FT%

807

RPG

4.1

APG

3.3

SPG

0.7

BPG

0.2

PPG

15.1

1984–85

Year

1984–85

Team

LA Clippers

MPG

25.5

FG%

465

3P%

359

FT%

879

RPG

2.9

APG

2.1

SPG

0.6

BPG

0.2

PPG

13.9

1985–86

Year

1985–86

Team

LA Clippers

MPG

20.0

FG%

441

3P%

333

FT%

891

RPG

2.1

APG

1.9

SPG

0.5

BPG

0.1

PPG

8.8

1986–87

Year

1986–87

Team

Milwaukee

MPG

12.3

FG%

462

3P%

167

FT%

800

RPG

1.5

APG

1.0

SPG

0.3

BPG

0.1

PPG

5.1

Career

Year

Career

Team

849

25.0

MPG

475

FG%

244

3P%

846

FT%

3.5

RPG

2.4

APG

0.8

SPG

0.3

BPG

13.6

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1975–76	Milwaukee	81	–	20.3	439	–	795	3.6	1.9	0.6	0.3	8.6
1976–77	Milwaukee	82	–	29.4	449	000	864	5.1	2.5	1.0	0.3	14.4
1977–78	Milwaukee	82	–	22.9	503	000	810	3.5	2.1	0.9	0.4	13.6
1978–79	Milwaukee	82	–	23.9	506	000	829	3.6	2.0	1.1	0.5	15.5
1979–80	Milwaukee	81	–	28.6	478	185	865	3.7	2.9	1.2	0.2	17.6
1980–81	Milwaukee	77	–	28.8	487	143	884	3.8	3.0	1.1	0.4	16.8
1981–82	Milwaukee	41	4	22.5	483	444	864	3.0	2.7	0.7	0.1	12.5
1982–83	Milwaukee	70	5	26.5	492	077	837	3.5	3.0	0.6	0.1	14.4
1983–84	Milwaukee	81	10	30.0	465	194	807	4.1	3.3	0.7	0.2	15.1
1984–85	LA Clippers	80	15	25.5	465	359	879	2.9	2.1	0.6	0.2	13.9
1985–86	LA Clippers	58	14	20.0	441	333	891	2.1	1.9	0.5	0.1	8.8
1986–87	Milwaukee	34	4	12.3	462	167	800	1.5	1.0	0.3	0.1	5.1
Career		849	52	25.0	475	244	846	3.5	2.4	0.8	0.3	13.6

· NBA career statistics › Playoffs

1975–76

Year

1975–76

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

22.3

FG%

450

3P%

–

FT%

636

RPG

3.7

APG

1.7

SPG

0.3

BPG

0.0

PPG

8.3

1977–78

Year

1977–78

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

19.8

FG%

484

3P%

–

FT%

750

RPG

2.0

APG

1.2

SPG

1.0

BPG

0.2

PPG

10.4

1979–80

Year

1979–80

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

24.8

FG%

357

3P%

000

FT%

733

RPG

3.8

APG

3.4

SPG

1.0

BPG

0.4

PPG

10.2

1980–81

Year

1980–81

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

26.1

FG%

462

3P%

1.000

FT%

813

RPG

2.1

APG

3.3

SPG

0.9

BPG

0.0

PPG

14.0

1982–83

Year

1982–83

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

34.2

FG%

469

3P%

400

FT%

933

RPG

5.0

APG

3.1

SPG

1.1

BPG

0.2

PPG

16.9

1983–84

Year

1983–84

Team

Milwaukee

–

MPG

31.2

FG%

456

3P%

111

FT%

815

RPG

4.0

APG

2.8

SPG

0.4

BPG

0.3

PPG

14.4

Career

Year

Career

Team

–

27.7

MPG

454

FG%

250

3P%

814

FT%

3.5

RPG

2.6

APG

0.8

SPG

0.2

BPG

13.3

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1975–76	Milwaukee	3	–	22.3	450	–	636	3.7	1.7	0.3	0.0	8.3
1977–78	Milwaukee	9	–	19.8	484	–	750	2.0	1.2	1.0	0.2	10.4
1979–80	Milwaukee	5	–	24.8	357	000	733	3.8	3.4	1.0	0.4	10.2
1980–81	Milwaukee	7	–	26.1	462	1.000	813	2.1	3.3	0.9	0.0	14.0
1982–83	Milwaukee	9	–	34.2	469	400	933	5.0	3.1	1.1	0.2	16.9
1983–84	Milwaukee	16	–	31.2	456	111	815	4.0	2.8	0.4	0.3	14.4
Career		49	–	27.7	454	250	814	3.5	2.6	0.8	0.2	13.3

References

Cracked.com
https://www.cracked.com/article_31343_the-second-richest-nba-player-ever-got-rich-off-burgers-not-basketball.html
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/sports/basketball/junior-bridgeman-dead.html
Courier Journal
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2025/03/11/junior-bridgeman-billionaire-basketball-legend-dies-in-louisville/82279596007/
The Times
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-bridgeman-ulysses-lee-2-may/167773418/
College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/junior-bridgeman-1.html
College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/louisville/1975.html
Basketball-Reference.com
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bridgju01.html
"1975–76 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats | Basketball-Reference.com"
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1976.html
"Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics Box Score, December 15, 1976 | Basketball-Reference.com"
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/197612150BOS.html
"Junior Bridgeman Stats | Basketball-Reference.com"
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bridgju01.html
"1976–77 Milwaukee Bucks Roster and Stats | Basketball-Reference.com"
https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/MIL/1977.html
"1981 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals – Bucks vs. 76ers | Basketball-Reference.com"
https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1981-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-bucks-vs-76ers.html
"No. 9 — Terry Cummings, Ricky Pierce, Craig Hodges"
https://madison.com/no-9-terry-cummings-ricky-pierce-craig-hodges/article_e12ec417-47da-5a02-8ca0-8fa5eebb8012.html
"Los Angeles Clippers at Cleveland Cavaliers Box Score, January 29, 1985 | Basketball-Reference.com"
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/198501290CLE.html
""It's been a long, long journey"- Giannis Antetokounmpo looks back after playing franchise-record 712th game with the Milwaukee Bucks"
https://www.si.com/nba/bucks/news/giannis-antetokounmpo-played-franchise-record-712th-game-with-the-milwaukee-bucks
Behind the Bucks
https://behindthebuckpass.com/2020/06/15/milwaukee-bucks-meet-the-1970s-all-decade-team/7/
nbpa.com
https://nbpa.com/about
UPI
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/10/01/Players-charge-NBA-with-antitrust-violations/8956560059200/
Black Wealth Channel
https://web.archive.org/web/20180904192235/https://www.themaven.net/blackwealthchannel/investing/how-a-former-nba-player-turned-350-000-into-400-million-FyRtXUpz5E6XFmVi6NhedA/
bizjournals.com
https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2016/04/20/junior-bridgeman-selling-restaurant-franchises-to.html
Milwaukee Business Journal
https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2016/04/01/junior-bridgeman-fourth-on-forbes-retired-jock-pay.html
bizjournals.com
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2018/03/09/nba-legend-nhl-entrepreneur-joint-venture.html
The Courier-Journal
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2020/12/24/ebony-magazine-purchased-by-junior-bridgeman/4037721001/
Recycling Today
https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/ball-manna-aluminum-can-recycling-new-mexico-investment/
"Governor Ivey Announces Manna Capital Partners Plans $600 Million Beverage Manufacturing Hub in Montgomery, Creating 280 Jobs"
https://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2022/10/governor-ivey-announces-manna-capital-partners-plans-600-million-beverage-manufacturing-hub-in-montgomery-creating-280-jobs/
Associated Press News
https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-bucks-junior-bridgeman-2a1ba87f6211b41fe1a89a3749725104
Ebony
https://www.ebony.com/a-tribute-to-junior-bridgeman-honoring-a-legend/
Franchise Times
https://www.franchisetimes.com/nba-great-junior-bridgeman-remembered-for-successes-as-a-franchisee/article_7b968df0-0037-11f0-90e7-97c1bdce40ca.html
Adam Mendler
https://www.adammendler.com/blog/eden-bridgeman-sklenar/
"Hartford Alphas"
https://web.archive.org/web/20060712054014/http://www.hartfordalphas.com/alphaphialpha.php?ID=3
"Congratulations Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman"
http://www.africanamericangolfersdigest.com/congratulations-ulysses-junior-bridgeman-2/
masslive.com
https://www.masslive.com/sports/2010/02/naismith_memorial_basketball_h_2.html
churchilldownsincorporated.com
http://www.churchilldownsincorporated.com/our_company/company_news/2012/10/01/churchill_downs_incorporated_appoints_new_board_member
"Gov. Matt Bevin names 10 appointees to University of Louisville Board of Trustees"
https://www.wdrb.com/news/education/gov-matt-bevin-names-10-appointees-to-university-of-louisville-board-of-trustees/article_6049f659-199c-5762-aafc-3b4cc68c5d3e.html
"Board Roster 2002 – present — Office of the President"
http://louisville.edu/president/board-of-trustees/board-roster-2002-2016
Simmons College of Kentucky
https://web.archive.org/web/20230317202212/https://simmonscollegeky.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Academic-Catalog-SCKY-2021-2022.pdf
"Junior Bridgeman's heart still with Bucks"
http://archive.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/248050771.html
NBA.com
https://www.nba.com/bucks/release/bucks-legends-bridgeman-and-abdul-jabbar-appear-upcoming-home-games
"'So much admiration for the guys': Junior Bridgeman reflects on time with the Milwaukee Bucks"
https://www.tmj4.com/sports/basketball/milwaukee-bucks/so-much-admiration-for-the-guys-junior-bridgeman-reflects-on-time-with-the-milwaukee-bucks
The Southeast Outlook
https://web.archive.org/web/20190704045026/http://www.southeastoutlook.org/news/top_stories/article_ef900724-01a7-11e6-a6c3-7723c904d902.html
The Courier-Journal
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2016/06/17/ul-who-3-bevin-appointed-lead-interim/86035106/
"Junior Bridgeman dies after suffering medical emergency during event in downtown Louisville"
https://www.wave3.com/2025/03/11/junior-bridgeman-dies-after-suffering-medical-emergency-during-event-downtown-louisville/
"Public Celebration of Eternal Life announced to honor Junior Bridgeman"
https://www.wdrb.com/news/public-celebration-of-eternal-life-announced-to-honor-junior-bridgeman/article_deb14b18-02a4-11f0-bb71-372018c5969e.html
NBA.com (AP)
https://www.nba.com/news/bucks-statement-owner-junior-bridgeman-passes-away
Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
http://www.wihalloffame.com/junior-bridgeman
louisville.edu
http://louisville.edu/artsandsciences/about/hallofhonor/inductees/bridgeman.html
mvc-sports.com
https://mvc-sports.com/news/2011/8/17/IMPORTED_STORY_5425_131414096457362144.aspx?path=baseball
The Times
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-east-chicago-will-honor-bridge/167774154/
entrepreneurhof.com
https://www.entrepreneurhof.com/
Louisville KY
https://web.archive.org/web/20190410222307/http://louisvilleky.com/ulysses-junior-bridgeman-honored-louisvillekys-gli-gold-cup-award/