Jerry Colangelo skilled a “large shock” of the 2 successive losses this week.
The primary Phoenix Suns The proprietor spoke to the Republic of Arizona of certainly one of his outdated restoration selections, Oliver Miller, who died of most cancers On Wednesday, and Miller’s full function within the NBA ultimate in 1993 of the staff.
As well as, Colangelo stated that he had been “struck fairly sturdy” in regards to the former NBA magnate who has change into corporations and philanthropist Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman of Bridgeman removed from a coronary heart assault at 71 in Louisville on Tuesday.
An elder Milwaukee Bucks Wing, Bridgeman was one of many richest former skilled athletes on the planet with a internet worth of greater than $ 1.4 billion. Colangelo described sensible the character of Bridgeman as a humble and unpretentious magnate.
“You imply a mannequin, so it would not be higher than Bridgeman Junior,” stated Colangelo. “He began as a fantastic athlete, a primary spherical selection, a man who was concerned in one of many principal trades of all time when he was exchanged from (Los Angeles) Lakers to Milwaukee within the Jabbar commerce.”
Colangelo referred to the 1975 superproduction commerce which despatched a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from the Milwaukee period in Los Angeles, a yr after the Bucks reached the ultimate for the second time in 4 seasons. Bridgeman was initially chosen by the de Louisville throughout the 1975 draft and was handled in Milwaukee three weeks later alongside three different gamers for Jabbar and Walt Wesley.
Magic Johnson additionally praised his longtime pal Bridgeman on social networks.
“I had the privilege of taking part in towards him, and I’ll always remember how he had one of many sweetest kicks within the NBA,” stated Johnson. “However it was his character, his kindness and his candy soul that actually left me a long-lasting impression. He was one of many nicest the fellows you’d by no means wish to meet.”
I’m saddened to study the demise of my pal Junior Bridgeman. I had the privilege of taking part in towards him, and I’ll always remember how he had one of many sweetest boosts within the NBA. However it was his character, his kindness and his candy soul that actually left a sustainable … pic.twitter.com/i3xa3fgwuu
– Earvin Magic Johnson (@magicjohnson) March 11, 2025
The primary 10 seasons of the profession of the NBA of Bridgeman had been with the Bucks, the subsequent two had been handed with the Clippers. He returned to the Bucks for his final season earlier than retiring in 1987.
After not having made greater than a wage of $ 350,000 in a single yr, Bridgeman has invested his few million saved within the Wendy quick meals franchise in Milwaukee. He lastly purchased 450 Wendy and Chile eating places in 20 states.
Bridgeman’s Enterprise Holdings has prolonged to the possession of Coca-Cola distribution operations in the USA and Canada, the Valhalla Golf Membership of Louisville, the African-American journal Staples Jet and Ebony, and was the proprietor of a minority. He was additionally a member of the board of administrators in a sequence of charitable organizations, monetary corporations, PGA in America, the place of Churchill Downs of Kentucky Derby and extra.
COLANGELO, president of the Naismith basketball famend temple, labored with Bridgeman as a colleague member of the board of administrators and by way of fundraising for this institute. He additionally defined the that means of the bridgeman.
“He took a place he had gained by way of skilled athlete, he died in such a approach that he opened doorways to him,” stated Colangelo. “He was a threat lessee in a really optimistic approach, noticed the longer term by way of franchise and diving as he did as an artic …”
Colangelo spoke philosophically about how Bridgeman had an impression on his life.
“I feel I used to be on the telephone with (former coach of the state of Washington and USC) George Raveling or (NBA All-Star of the Sixties, former government of Bucks) Wayne Embry as a result of we had conversations on the lack of junior, and I stated:` `at our age, when somebody handed who had been an integral a part of our lives within the recreation, we misplaced part of ourselves. ” ‘
This text initially appeared on Arizona Republic: The previous proprietor of the SUNS, Colangelo, talks in regards to the finish of the impression of the billionaire of the NBA Bridgeman
