Shaquille O’Neal is regarded as one of the top athletes-turned businessmen in our day and age. However, the former Los Angeles Lakers credits late NBA icon Junior Bridgeman for his business acumen.
Bridgeman, aged 71, passed away on Tuesday due to a heart attack. Several sports personalities are highlighting his contribution to the players’ lives.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Massive Business Empire Has Fingerprints of Junior Bridgeman
Stories regarding Bridgeman’s foray into the business world during his 13-year playing career have become legendary. During the offseasons, the former point guard focused on learning how businesses operate.
His tenacity led him to become a billionaire, with a net worth of $1.4 billion, according to Forbes. The former Milwaukee Bucks player also became the franchise’s owner in 2024.
However, Shaq revealed that Bridgeman is also responsible for the former Lakers center’s sizeable $500 million net worth as well (According to Celebrity Net Worth).
Hence, Shaq was emotional about Bridgeman’s passing. During his appearance on TNT, the four-time NBA champion revealed the details of Bridgeman’s effects on his life.
“This one really hit hard for me,” O’Neal said. “A lot of people don’t know this, but I’ve patterned my whole business acumen after Junior Bridgeman. They always tell us stories about 75% of athletes, zero to five years after they’re done playing, go broke.”
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
“And I never wanted to be that. So, I started looking at people. Michael [Jordan], of course, Magic. But I remember one time a Forbes list came out, and I was like, ‘I know them all on this list, all the commercials I do,’ and I saw his name. I reached out to him, and I started talking.”
Shaq revealed that he spent his business career trying to pattern it as Bridgeman had done, especially in the food and beverage industry.
“He was somebody that I looked up to. I know I get a lot of credit, but if it wasn’t for Bridgeman, I wouldn’t have known where to start,” he added.
Magic Johnson Joins O’Neal in Honoring Bridgeman
Bridgeman’s passing has affected the entire sporting community, yet the NBA legends are the hardest hit. Apart from O’Neal, Lakers legend Magic Johnson honored the former Bucks player.
Johnson took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote a lengthy post highlighting Bridgeman’s vast contributions to the sporting community.
“Thank you, Junior, for being an inspiration on how to be a man, a husband, a father, and a businessman. You spent so much of your post-playing career mentoring and educating athletes and I always reference your journey when I speak to young athletes about transitioning from the court or field to the boardroom,” wrote Johnson.