Junior Bridgeman

At a glance

Born 1953-09-17; died 2025-03-11.

Who they were

Junior Bridgeman, American basketball player and businessman (born 1953)

Early life

Early life Ulysses Lee Bridgeman Jr. was born in East Chicago, Indiana , to Ulysses Lee Bridgeman Sr., a steel mill worker, and Delores (Meaders) Bridgeman, a homemaker. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] He attended Washington High School and was a member of their 1971 basketball team, which went undefeated (29–0) and won the Indiana state high school basketball championship. Among his teammates were his brother Sam, Pete Trgovich and Tim Stoddard . [ 2 ]

Path and careerAI-assisted

Bridgeman played 12 seasons in the NBA (1978–1990), primarily for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers. He averaged 13.1 points per game over his career and was known for his defensive versatility and work ethic.

After retiring from basketball, Bridgeman became a successful entrepreneur, building a restaurant empire that included over 160 Wendy's franchises and ownership stakes in other chains. He also became a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, the team where he had his greatest playing success.

Why this date

Junior Bridgeman appears on our March 11 calendar for 2025 as a death entry.