Retired Milwaukee Bucks player and owner of Jet and Ebony magazines, Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman, died Tuesday night at the age of 71, according to the Associated Press.

Louisville-based news station WLKY reported that Bridgeman appeared to be having a heart attack during a leadership and fundraising luncheon at Louisville’s Galt House Hotel on Tuesday night. News of his death was confirmed by the hotel’s ownership later that same night night.

Bridgeman, a Chicago native, played three seasons at Louisville University from 1972 to 1975. During that time, he scored 1,348 points and grabbed 657 rebounds. He led his team to the Final Four in 1975, but they ultimately lost to UCLA in a dramatic 75-74 finish.

The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bridgeman with the eighth pick in the 1975 NBA Draft. The Lakers included Bridgeman in the historic trade with the Milwaukee Bucks that brought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Los Angeles Angeles.

Bridgeman ranks third for most games played in Milwaukee with 711, trailing only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. He retired from the NBA in 1987, and Milwaukee retired Bridgeman’s No. 2 jersey a year later.

After retiring, Bridgeman left a lasting legacy in business. He invested in Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants and eventually owned over 100 chains restaurants.

Bridgeman then purchased Jet and Ebony Magazine in 2020 and appointed his daughter Eden Bridgeman Sklenar as CEO of the company.

In 2024, the Milwaukee Bucks announced that Bridgeman purchased a 10% stake in the team.

As of February of 2025 Bridgeman was estimated to have a $1.4 billion net worth at the time of his death, according to a Forbes report.

Bridgeman is survived by his wife, Doris, and three children, Eden, Justin and Ryan.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and the Bucks organization each issued statements Tuesday remembering Bridgeman.

“Junior was the ultimate entrepreneur who built on his impactful 12-year NBA playing career by becoming a highly respected and successful business leader,” Silver said. “He served as a mentor to generations of NBA players and athletes across sports who were eager to learn from him about what it takes to thrive in the business world.”

“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,” the Bucks said in a statement. “His memory will always be an inspiration to the Bucks organization.”