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.

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, a longtime NBA forward who would eventually go on to become one of the wealthiest ex-athletes in the world, died at 71 on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks announced. According to WLKY, Bridgeman suffered a medical emergency during a speaking engagement in Louisville on Tuesday.