NBA Legend Dies Suddenly After Medical Emergency

A legendary alum of the Milwaukee Bucks who later became a billionaire minority-owner in the team that gave him his start died suddenly at a speaking engagement earlier this week.

Ulysses Bridgeman, known as “Junior” throughout his life and career and who played 12 professional seasons in the NBA before shrewdly launching his own business ventures, died on Tuesday after suffering a medical event during a speaking engagement in Louisville, Kentucky.

According to multiple outlets, Bridgeman grasped at his chest before collapsing on stage at the 45th Annual Leadership Luncheon on Scouting, an event that brings together the NBA’s best headhunters to raise funds in support of the Lincoln Heritage Council at the Galt House Hotel. The former player’s death was confirmed by the manager of the hotel where the event took place and later by Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.

“Today, we lost a kind, generous and groundbreaking legend,” Greenberg said in a statement to the NY Post. “He was an All-American at UofL, an NBA All-Star, and a self-made billionaire. Yet, I will most remember Junior Bridgeman for his quiet, impactful assistance to others in need, his love for Doris and his entire family, and his never-ending support for our community. Junior made us all better people and Louisville a better city. Rachel and I send our love and prayers to the Bridgeman family. May Junior’s memory be a blessing.”

Bridgeman was in the middle of being interviewed by Kent Taylor, sports director for local station WLKY, when the fatal incident occurred. He was rushed by emergency personnel to an ambulance.

During his career, Bridgeman averaged 13.6 points per game and 3.6 rebounds. By his final season, the small forward and shooting guard played in 711 games for the Bucks, a record that stood until it was surpassed by Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2023.

The off-season, however, is where Bridgeman truly shined. He took advantage of the downtime by learning the ins and outs of franchise management after purchasing several Wendy’s fast-food restaurants during his professional career. In retirement, he invested heavily and eventually took over more than 100 Wendy’s and Chili’s locations before selling his share in 2016.

According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, the sale made Bridgeman the fourth richest former athlete at the time behind Michael Jordan, David Beckham, and Arnold Palmer.

He parlayed the experience with his own management company into a lucrative bottling deal with Coca-Cola and in 2020 purchased the flailing magazines Jet and Ebony for $14 million, both of which had declared bankruptcy the previous year.

Bridgeman returned to glory in 2024 when the Bucks announced he had purchased a 10% stake in his former team. Forbes at the time estimated the Indiana native’s net worth at $1.4 billion.

“The Milwaukee Bucks are shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Bucks legend and owner Junior Bridgeman,” the franchise wrote in a statement upon news of Bridgeman’s passing.

“Junior’s retired No. 2 jersey hangs in Fiserv Forum, serving as a constant remembrance of his outstanding play on the court and his impact on the Bucks’ success. His hard work and perseverance led him to become one of the nation’s top business leaders and, last September, Junior’s professional life came full circle when he returned to the Bucks family as an owner. His memory will always be an inspiration to the Bucks organization.”

“We are heartbroken by Junior’s passing and we send our deepest condolences to his wife, Doris, his children, Eden, Justin, and Ryan, his entire family and all those close to him,” the statement concludes.