Junior Bridgeman, a former NBA player, had a notable 12-year career with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers. He was originally drafted eighth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1975 NBA Draft but was traded to the Bucks just three weeks later in a high-profile deal for Hall of Fame center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Though Bridgeman didn’t achieve the same level of fame as Abdul-Jabbar, he found significant success as an entrepreneur. During his playing days, he gained valuable business experience by working with Wendy’s franchises in the offseason. He eventually built a fortune by owning 100 Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants, which he sold in 2016 before becoming a Coca-Cola bottler in 2017. He also acquired the Ebony and Jet magazines.
Nearly 40 years after his last game with the Bucks, Bridgeman is returning to the team as a minority owner. According to CNBC, he is purchasing a 10% stake in the franchise, benefiting from a 15% preferred limited partner discount, resulting in a valuation of $3.4 billion. Following Bridgeman’s deal, the franchise’s value has increased to $4 billion, up from $3.5 billion last year when former Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry sold his 25% share to Haslam Sports Group. In 2014, Lasry and current co-owner Wes Edens bought the Bucks from former senator Herb Kohl for just $550 million.
Bridgeman joins the ownership group at a crucial time as the Bucks, despite having one of the league’s most expensive rosters, have struggled to replicate their 2021 championship success. Led by stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the Bucks paid $52.5 million in luxury taxes last season, ranking fourth-highest behind the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Phoenix Suns, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
