Junior Bridgeman was a familiar face of the Milwaukee Bucks in the tardy 1970s and early 1980s as one of the franchise’s best players at the time. However, decades later, the former NBA star returned as one of the franchise’s modern minority owners.
Bridgeman is a well-known figure in both sports and business. He had a successful 12-year NBA careermostly with the Bucks, where he played from 1975 to 1984 and again from 1986 to 1987. The large man was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1975 NBA draft but was traded to Milwaukee shortly thereafter. Throughout his career, he was known for his scoring ability, averaging 13.6 points per game, and was a key player on powerful Bucks teams that won multiple division titles.
After his basketball career ended, Bridgeman turned to entrepreneurship. He leveraged his offseason experiences by investing in Wendy’s franchises, eventually owning more than 100 restaurants, including Chili’s. By 2016, he was listed as one of the richest retired athletes, with an estimated net worth of more than $600 million. His business ventures continued to flourish as he became a bottler for Coca-Cola and acquired iconic Ebony and Jet magazines in 2020 after they faced bankruptcy.
Bridgeman’s entrepreneurial spirit is further embodied by his involvement in Manna Capital Partners, which focuses on beverage production and aluminum recycling. His journey from professional athlete to successful businessman highlights his versatility and determination, making him a prominent figure in both the worlds of sport and business.
NBA Legend Junior Bridgeman Buys 10 Percent Stake in Milwaukee Bucks
News recently broke that Bridgeman had thrown his name into the hat for a chance to join the Bucks franchise. Eben Novy-Williams and Brendan Coffey provided more details in an article for Sportico.
“Veteran basketball player and entrepreneur Junior Bridgeman is buying a piece of the team he played for, reaching an agreement to acquire a 10% ownership stake in the Milwaukee Bucks, according to a person familiar with the deal who asked not to be identified because the move has not yet been approved by the NBA.”
Bridgeman is taking a 10% stake in the club, valued at $3.4 billion, according to sources. Although the exact terms of the deal remain undisclosed, restricted partner sales typically happen at a discount. Last year, a quarter of the club was sold to Dee and Jimmy Haslam for $3.2 billionand the average NBA team is now worth $4 billion.
The question remains whether the league will approve the sale or not. If it goes through, having one of the franchise’s best players as an owner would be good for the Bucks and the roster led by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
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