A Final Four appearance, 12 NBA seasons, and an unparalleled empire that came full circle – those were the things that made Junior Bridgeman unforgettable. The Milwaukee Bucks legend passed away on Tuesday at 71. The TNT Tuesday crew was among the first to react to the devastating news. But it was Shaquille O’Neal who was struck hard. Bridgeman’s friendship with the TNT crew, especially Shaq and Chuck, went way back to their NBA careers. As with both players turned businessmen, Junior Bridgeman became an inspiration.
The Bucks as well as the mayor of Louisville, announced his passing after Bridgeman suffered a medical emergency at a fundraiser in Louisville. According to a report from WLKY-TV, a reporter was speaking with Bridgeman, 71, when he “expressed that he thought he was having a heart attack.” Shaquille O’Neal reacted to the news with solemn reverence on TNT’s pre-game show. “This one really hit hard for me,” he started. “A lot of people don’t know this but I’ve patterned my whole business acumen after Junior Bridgeman.”
He went on to say that in order to not become another statistic, he modeled himself after Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. When Forbes covered Junior Bridgeman’s billion dollar empire, Shaq reached out to him to pick his brain. O’Neal admits copying Junior’s blueprint, including starting Big Chicken due to Bridgeman’s Wendy’s investment.
Shaq reflects on the passing of his friend, @Bucks legend and owner Junior Bridgeman pic.twitter.com/YiDzQhqR4R
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 11, 2025
The post “Really Hit Hard”: Bucks Icon and Shaquille O’Neal’s Friend, Junior Bridgeman, Passes Away at 71 appeared first on EssentiallySports.