I was heartbroken last Tuesday when I learned my dear friend Junior Bridgeman had passed away suddenly from a heart attack. He was 71 and seemed to be in good health. One writer stated, “Louisville lost its number one citizen.” I think that’s true. No one was more respected, more loved, and more influential in our community than Junior. Yet his impact reached far beyond Louisville, Kentucky. Not only have scores of professional athletes and Hollywood celebrities publicly lamented his passing, but social media abounds with thousands of business professionals, grateful recipients of his philanthropic work, and others who have expressed their sympathy. Junior touched more lives than I could ever begin to count.

How did a kid from humble beginnings in East Chicago in the 1950s and ’60s grow into such an admired and influential figure?

Some might attribute it to his athletic ability. He was a star forward at the University of Louisville and the eighth overall pick in the 1975 NBA Draft. He went on to play over a dozen seasons in the NBA, and the Milwaukee Bucks later retired his jersey. Others might credit his brilliant business mind and ambitious spirit. Indeed, Junior was a wise investor, a hard worker, and a strategic risk-taker who built a business empire. Just a few weeks ago, Forbes Magazine featured him in a profile, estimating his net worth at $1.4 billion—a testament to his remarkable financial success.

But there was so much more to Junior Bridgeman than basketball and wealth.

Junior grew up in a Christian home and never strayed from the spiritual foundation that shaped him. He married his college sweetheart, Doris Payne, a wonderful Christian woman who was not only his greatest encourager but also a strong moral compass in his life.

I remember one vacation when Junior and I, along with two other friends, wanted to squeeze in a round of golf on a Sunday morning. So we found a church with an 8:00 a.m. service to accommodate our schedule. We took our wives to the early service, which lasted about 50 minutes—just enough time to ease our conscience and make it to our tee time. But Doris wasn’t having it. She let Junior and me (her preacher!) know, in no uncertain terms, that we were “just playing church” so we could get to the golf course. We still played golf—but felt guilty the whole afternoon.

Junior benefited greatly by having such a godly woman at his side. Doris didn’t just support him; she sharpened him.

Junior remained humble, no matter how much success he achieved. I’ve never known someone with so much success, yet so unpretentious. Though he owned hundreds of Wendy’s restaurants, he would still stop in and work the drive-thru window from time to time. He never bragged or flaunted his success. He never sought the spotlight or demanded prominence. Maybe that’s one of the reasons God blessed him so much, because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). When a friend congratulated Junior on his Forbes Magazine article, he chuckled and said, “I think I’m going to wait till next week to read it.”

While many call him a basketball legend, it is the countless stories of Junior’s generosity that are legendary. After his passing, one man texted to remind me, “Junior gave me $25,000 to help start a business when I got out of prison.” During COVID, one of his stores had to close for a week, but he made sure every employee was paid in full, even though they had not worked a single hour that week. Numerous charitable organizations and Christian-based initiatives benefited from his generosity.

I once complimented him on his wise stewardship of wealth, and he simply said, “It’s not hard if you remember it doesn’t really belong to you.”

What made Junior Bridgeman, Junior Bridgeman? What made him the man he was? It was his faith in Jesus Christ. He was committed to church, studying the Bible, and reflecting Christ daily. He bore the fruit of the Spirit in everything he did: “Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22).

I once prayed with Junior and a handful of others for a spiritual revival. Even though his knees were a little shaky from old basketball injuries, he didn’t hesitate to kneel with us before His savior.

Over a century ago, a British preacher was asked to define Christianity. After a moment of thought, he simply replied, “Phillips Brooks.” Instead of offering a definition, he pointed to a man he knew who lived it. If someone asked for proof of genuine Christian faith today, we can just as easily say, “Junior Bridgeman.”

Luke 6:26 warns, “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you.” But if ever a man could receive praise while still pointing others to God, it was Junior. People from every walk of life have always had great things to say about Junior Bridgeman, and so much more this week. But he would be most pleased if they gave all the glory to God, because that’s what made Junior Bridgeman, Junior Bridgeman.