MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Bucks will be wearing patches on their jerseys for the rest of the season to honor minority owner Junior Bridgeman, a former Bucks player who died Tuesday at the age of 71.

The Bucks held a moment of silence before Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers to honor Bridgeman. A video celebrating Bridgeman's life aired during a first-quarter timeout.

Honoring Junior on our jersey for the rest of the season. pic.twitter.com/lbAFMELEtB

Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 13, 2025

Bridgeman played for the Bucks from 1975 to 1984 and again in 1986-87. His 711 games played for the Bucks rank third in franchise history, behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. Bridgeman's No. 2 jersey hangs from the Fiserv Forum rafters.

After his playing days, Bridgeman had even more success as a businessman. He bought a 10% stake in the Bucks last summer and was estimated to be a billionaire by Forbes earlier this year.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo told Milwaukee's younger players about Bridgeman and his impact.

"One of the things I just keep thinking about with Junior: We have the Magics and the LeBrons -- guys who have become billionaires -- but a lot of that, they started with huge salaries. The norm of the league is Junior Bridgeman. The fact he could do what he did, making, I think 300 grand was the most he made, which is not bad, but it doesn't get you a billion."

The Lakers actually drafted Bridgeman out of Louisville with the No. 8 overall pick in 1975, but he never played a game for them. The team sent him to Milwaukee as part of the package in a blockbuster trade that brought Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Los Angeles.