Former NBA player and multimillionaire Junior Bridgeman has died.

One of the richest former athletes, Junior Bridgeman, who later built a business empire, died at the age of 72, the press service of the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced on March 12 on its official website.

The article says that Bridgeman became ill during a charity event in one of the Louisville hotels where he was staying. The exact cause of death was not disclosed.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg confirmed the former basketball player's death, saying the city had "lost a kind, generous and innovative legend."

Junior Bridgeman was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers. After finishing his sports career in 1987, he became a successful entrepreneur — he owned shares in publishing and restaurants, and last year acquired 10% of the shares of the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2024, Forbes estimated his net worth at $1.4 billion.