Milwaukee Bucks: All-Time Greatest Small Forwards
By Adam McGee
Ulysses Lee “Junior” Bridgeman
It’s funny how things pan out sometimes. There’s perhaps been no player more important in Bucks history than Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and yet if he hadn’t been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee would have a different All-Time appearances leader right now.
After being drafted by the Lakers with the eighth overall pick of the 1975 NBA Draft, Bridgeman was immediately traded to Milwaukee along with Brian Winters, Elmore Smith and David Meyers in exchange for Kareem.
The Indiana native would go on to play in Milwaukee for ten seasons in total, amassing 711 total appearances as a Buck. Often filling a Sixth Man role for the team, the type of drive that led Bridgeman to be successful after basketball, was just as important in ensuring he seized every minute he spent on the floor in the NBA.
Much like Bob Dandridge, Bridgeman left Milwaukee towards the end of his professional career, but then returned for one final hurrah in MKE. Bridgeman’s no. 2 jersey hangs from the rafters in the Bradley Center.
With the Bucks, Bridgeman averaged 14.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists.
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