Junior Bridgeman Jersey Retirement Ceremony Set for Saturday; Cards Host 1975 Final Four Team
December 08, 2025 | Men's Basketball
Louisville celebrates the 50th anniversary of its 1975 Final Four team, which #10 Junior Bridgeman was part of
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Louisville Athletics is honored to welcome back the men's basketball 1975 Final Four team to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the accomplishment and for the jersey retirement ceremony of their teammate Junior Bridgeman.
Both the jersey retirement ceremony and the 1975 Team Celebration will be held at halftime of Saturday's men's basketball game against Memphis. The game tips off at 3:30 p.m. ET at the KFC Yum! Center. Fans can purchase tickets to join in the festivities at gocards.com/mbbmemphis.
Louisville Athletics will give away 10,000 commemorative tickets to fans in attendance. The ticket features 'The Timeless 10' Junior Bridgeman on one side and the 1974-75 team on the other. Tickets can be picked up at the marketing table behind Section 101 or at the top of the escalator in the 300 level, while supplies last.
Fans will also have the ability to purchase an exclusive Yeti tumbler that features Bridgeman's jersey and signature. Louisville Athletics will donate a portion of the proceeds from the limited-edition Yeti to the West End School.
There will be a limited number of Junior Bridgeman #10 'shirseys' available for purchase inside Cardinal Authentic. A portion of those proceeds will also be donated to the West End School.
Bridgeman's life and legacy go well beyond the game of basketball as a brilliant businessman and humble humanitarian. The UofL coaching staff and other athletics staff will don #10 jersey lapel pins during the Memphis game to honor Bridgeman and serve as a reminder to our community of his selfless work and amazing accomplishments.
Bridgeman's No. 10 will be the sixth number retired in the Louisville men's basketball program, joining No. 2 Russ Smith (2010-2014 at UofL), No. 8 Charlie Tyra (1953-57), No. 31 Wes Unseld (1965-68), No. 35 Darrell Griffith (1976-80) and No. 42 Pervis Ellison (1985-89).
Bridgeman was a top 30 career scorer for the Cardinals, earning All-American honors in 1975 while leading Louisville to the Final Four. His number was previously one of UofL's 20 honored jerseys in its basketball history.
In three seasons (1972-75) in The Ville, Bridgeman scored 1,348 career points (29th at UofL) and grabbed 657 rebounds. His 15.5 points per game career scoring average still ranks among the top 15 in school history.
Bridgeman, a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year (1974 and 1975) helped the Cardinals reach the 1975 NCAA Final Four and guided the program to a pair of MVC titles during his playing career.
An All-MVC selection in each of his three seasons, Bridgeman guided to the Cards to a 28-3 record in 1975, falling 75-74 to eventual national champion UCLA in the NCAA Final Four in San Diego, Calif.
For his efforts, Bridgeman was named to the NCAA Midwest Region All-Tournament Team and still holds the school record for most points in a NCAA Tournament game when he scored 36 points against Rutgers in 1975. That season, Bridgeman averaged 16.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and was voted a USWBA second team All-American.
In his junior season, Bridgeman averaged a team-best 16.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and was considered one of the nation's top rebounding guards.
Following his career at UofL, Bridgeman was selected as the eighth player overall in the 1975 NBA Draft to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was later dealt that year to the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade that featured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley.
Bridgeman went on to play 12 seasons with the Bucks (1975-84, 86-87) and the Los Angeles Clippers. He scored 11,517 points (13.6 scoring average) in his professional career. His number 2 jersey is one of the current retired numbers by the Bucks' organization.
A native of East Chicago, Ind., Bridgeman played in 849 games during his NBA career, 711 coming with the Bucks.
Following his basketball career, Bridgeman served numerous years on the UofL Board of Trustees and ULAA boards. He was also inducted into the UofL Athletic Hall of Fame. He served as the National Basketball Players Association president from 1985 to 1988.
In 2000, Bridgeman was named an NCAA Silver Anniversary Award winner, which is awarded every year by the NCAA to recognize six distinguished former student athletes on their 25th anniversary as college graduates.
Bridgeman served the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for 15 years, eight of those as Vice Chairman of the Board. In 2024, the Hall of Fame bestowed him with a "Life Trustee" designation, the highest honor a Board member can receive, reflecting his long-term and passionate commitment to the organization.
Bridgeman also became a minority owner in his longtime NBA team, the Milwaukee Bucks, in the fall of 2024.
Both the jersey retirement ceremony and the 1975 Team Celebration will be held at halftime of Saturday's men's basketball game against Memphis. The game tips off at 3:30 p.m. ET at the KFC Yum! Center. Fans can purchase tickets to join in the festivities at gocards.com/mbbmemphis.
Louisville Athletics will give away 10,000 commemorative tickets to fans in attendance. The ticket features 'The Timeless 10' Junior Bridgeman on one side and the 1974-75 team on the other. Tickets can be picked up at the marketing table behind Section 101 or at the top of the escalator in the 300 level, while supplies last.
Fans will also have the ability to purchase an exclusive Yeti tumbler that features Bridgeman's jersey and signature. Louisville Athletics will donate a portion of the proceeds from the limited-edition Yeti to the West End School.
There will be a limited number of Junior Bridgeman #10 'shirseys' available for purchase inside Cardinal Authentic. A portion of those proceeds will also be donated to the West End School.
Bridgeman's life and legacy go well beyond the game of basketball as a brilliant businessman and humble humanitarian. The UofL coaching staff and other athletics staff will don #10 jersey lapel pins during the Memphis game to honor Bridgeman and serve as a reminder to our community of his selfless work and amazing accomplishments.
Bridgeman's No. 10 will be the sixth number retired in the Louisville men's basketball program, joining No. 2 Russ Smith (2010-2014 at UofL), No. 8 Charlie Tyra (1953-57), No. 31 Wes Unseld (1965-68), No. 35 Darrell Griffith (1976-80) and No. 42 Pervis Ellison (1985-89).
Bridgeman was a top 30 career scorer for the Cardinals, earning All-American honors in 1975 while leading Louisville to the Final Four. His number was previously one of UofL's 20 honored jerseys in its basketball history.
In three seasons (1972-75) in The Ville, Bridgeman scored 1,348 career points (29th at UofL) and grabbed 657 rebounds. His 15.5 points per game career scoring average still ranks among the top 15 in school history.
Bridgeman, a two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year (1974 and 1975) helped the Cardinals reach the 1975 NCAA Final Four and guided the program to a pair of MVC titles during his playing career.
An All-MVC selection in each of his three seasons, Bridgeman guided to the Cards to a 28-3 record in 1975, falling 75-74 to eventual national champion UCLA in the NCAA Final Four in San Diego, Calif.
For his efforts, Bridgeman was named to the NCAA Midwest Region All-Tournament Team and still holds the school record for most points in a NCAA Tournament game when he scored 36 points against Rutgers in 1975. That season, Bridgeman averaged 16.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 52.5 percent from the field and was voted a USWBA second team All-American.
In his junior season, Bridgeman averaged a team-best 16.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game and was considered one of the nation's top rebounding guards.
Following his career at UofL, Bridgeman was selected as the eighth player overall in the 1975 NBA Draft to the Los Angeles Lakers. He was later dealt that year to the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade that featured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Walt Wesley.
Bridgeman went on to play 12 seasons with the Bucks (1975-84, 86-87) and the Los Angeles Clippers. He scored 11,517 points (13.6 scoring average) in his professional career. His number 2 jersey is one of the current retired numbers by the Bucks' organization.
A native of East Chicago, Ind., Bridgeman played in 849 games during his NBA career, 711 coming with the Bucks.
Following his basketball career, Bridgeman served numerous years on the UofL Board of Trustees and ULAA boards. He was also inducted into the UofL Athletic Hall of Fame. He served as the National Basketball Players Association president from 1985 to 1988.
In 2000, Bridgeman was named an NCAA Silver Anniversary Award winner, which is awarded every year by the NCAA to recognize six distinguished former student athletes on their 25th anniversary as college graduates.
Bridgeman served the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for 15 years, eight of those as Vice Chairman of the Board. In 2024, the Hall of Fame bestowed him with a "Life Trustee" designation, the highest honor a Board member can receive, reflecting his long-term and passionate commitment to the organization.
Bridgeman also became a minority owner in his longtime NBA team, the Milwaukee Bucks, in the fall of 2024.
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