Junior Bridgeman, ex-NBA star and billionaire businessman, dead at 71

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Junior Bridgeman, a 12-year NBA veteran and billionaire businessman, has died at the age of 71. 

According to WLKY, Bridgeman had a medical emergency at the 45th Annual Leadership Luncheon on Scouting at The Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky, Tuesday. 

WLKY reporter Kent Taylor was interviewing Bridgeman as part of the program to benefit the Lincoln Heritage Council, Scouting America.  

Bridgeman "expressed that he thought he was having a heart attack" in front of hundreds of luncheon attendees, Taylor said.

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Junior Bridgeman claps during an announcement that he is building a Manna Beverages factory in Montgomery, Ala., Oct. 18, 2022. (Imagn)

Emergency services were reportedly called immediately, and "people immediately jumped into action to help." Bridgeman was eventually transported from the luncheon by ambulance and later died. 

Louisville is where Bridgeman became a basketball legend before his business acumen made him a leader and philanthropist in the city.

Bridgeman played his college basketball at the University of Louisville from 1972-75, where he made two Final Four runs under legendary Cardinals coach Denny Crum.

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The Los Angeles Lakers made him the eighth overall pick of the 1975 NBA Draft, but he was moved to the Milwaukee Bucks, the team with which he spent all but two seasons during his 12-year NBA career. 

The shooting guard/small forward averaged 13.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while shooting 47.8% from the field in 711 career games for Milwaukee. 

Bridgeman owned a 10% minority stake