Former Milwaukee Bucks player now a ‘significant minority owner’ of team

Nearly 40 years ago, Junior Bridgeman suited up for his final game with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Bridgeman, who played for the team for 10 seasons, never made more than $350,000 in a single season. 

Thursday, it was announced he had become a “significant minority owner” of the Bucks, a franchise that is now valued at around $4 billion, according to a report from CNBC.

“The opportunity to get back involved with the team in a different way … was something that was kind of a dream,” Bridgeman said during an introductory press conference Thursday. 

During his career with the Bucks, Bridgeman played in 711 games. His No. 2 jersey was retired by the team and now hangs in the rafters of Fiserv Forum. 

After his NBA career, Bridgeman became the owner and CEO of Bridgeman Foods, which operated over 450 Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants until 2016, according to a statement from the Bucks. He’s also the owner of Ebony and Jet’s magazines.

But Bridgeman jumped at the opportunity to come back to Milwaukee. 

“When you played here and you became a part of the Bucks organization, even when you left, you never felt like you were not a part of the organization,” Bridgeman said Thursday.

“So when this opportunity presented itself, it just seemed like a natural thing for me to get a chance to be part — not just in heart, but physically — of the organization going forward,” he added.

The former Bucks player said he got multiple calls over the last few months from other teams interested in having him as an owner.

“But it had to mean more than just investing, it had to have some kind of heartfelt connection,” Bridgeman said about ultimately choosing Milwaukee.

When asked by a reporter if he ever expected to be where he is now, he replied, “Oh, no, no, no. Not at all.” 

Bridgeman, an Indiana native, now joins Jimmy and Dee Haslam, Wes Edens and Jamie Dinan as co-owners of the Bucks. He confirmed to reporters that he has a 10 percent stake in the team. 

Jimmy Haslam, who also owns the Cleveland Browns, said he’s gotten to know Bridgeman over the past few years. 

“This is a spectacular basketball player, businessman and person who’s now going to become a key owner of the Milwaukee Bucks,” Haslam said during the Thursday press conference. 

Jim Paschke, the former announcer for the team, said the announcement was a “full circle moment.”

“He is the same humble, kind, considerate person who first came to Milwaukee 49 years ago,” Paschke said. “Junior Bridgeman’s character is the thread that completes this full circle.” 

The Bucks have had continued success in recent seasons. They have the most wins of any NBA team in the past five years.

That’s largely due to superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who won the NBA Finals MVP award in 2021 when the team won its first NBA Championship in 50 years.

But after that championship, the team hasn’t been able to get back to the NBA Finals.

Last year, they fired head coach Adrian Griffin halfway through the season. The Bucks hired veteran coach Doc Rivers after firing Griffin, but the team exited the playoffs in the first round for the second year in a row.

Bucks players Khris Middleton, Damian Lillard and Pat Connaughton sat in on the introductory press conference Thursday.

“I just look forward to watching those guys over there win basketball games,” Bridgeman said.

The Bucks will play their first regular season game on Oct. 23.