Bridgeman, who played 12 NBA seasons, died Tuesday at 71. He became an astute businessman, fast-food franchise owner, 10 percent owner of the Bucks, and finally a billionaire.

Bridgeman, known as well for 12 years as a small forward/shooting with the Milwaukee Bucks, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 71. His death has created a void in both the basketball and the business worlds, where he was widely admired as a self-made success.

Former Bucks star Junior Bridgeman, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 71, built an empire spanning restaurants, publishing, and more.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Junior Bridgeman, a basketball standout who led Louisville to a Final Four, played 12 seasons in the NBA and then launched an even more successful career as a businessman with stakes in publishing, restaurants and the Milwaukee Bucks, died Tuesday. He was 71.

Junior Bridgeman was known primarily for his 12-year NBA career, but he was an avid golfer who supported the game as an independent PGA board member.

He became an entrepreneur during a solid career with the Milwaukee Bucks. He later bought hundreds of fast-food outlets, a Coca-Cola bottling business and Ebony and Jet magazines.