Bridgeman joins Bucks ownership group

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It's a full-circle moment for the Milwaukee Bucks as former player Junior Bridgeman joins the team's ownership group. Bridgeman now owns 10% of the team that he spent ten years playing for. 

His re-introduction felt a bit like a family reunion with Doc Rivers, Bucks General Manager Jon Horst, and about half the team watching. Players like Khris Middleton, Damian Lillard, and Brook Lopez all welcomed Bridgeman back personally. 

The team's new significant minority owner made most of his money after his playing career was over owning more than 450 Wendy's and Chili's restaurants across 20 states along with other investments. He says one of the reasons he wanted to get into Bucks ownership was to help the current players in the business world, the same way former Bucks owner Jim Fitzgerald helped him nearly 50 years ago. 

"When you play here, and you became a part of the Bucks' organization even when you left you never felt like you were not part of the organization. So, when this opportunity presented itself, it just seemed like a natural thing for me, and I just look forward to watching those guys over there win basketball games," Bridgeman said. 

"I don't think you could've found if you said, 'alright let's find somebody to add as a partner,'" said Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam. "'He's number one and I can't thing who is number two.' I'll just reiterate, former star player, face of the franchise, successful businessperson, great character. That's what you're looking for and the fact that he understands this community."

Over the years, Bridgeman has had chances to buy into other teams -- three actually called him in the last couple of months, but he didn't feel any heartfelt connection. As for the Bucks, Bridgeman actually talked to Senator Herb Kohl about a decade ago, but didn't think the time was right then and now it is.