This isn’t the easiest newsletter to write. And usually, I like to keep most phone calls like this private. But this is a call I’ll remember for the remainder of my life.

March 11, 2025, at 9:48 a.m.

It was a call to Junior Bridgeman, the longtime NBA Sixth Man who was named a billionaire by Forbes last month. By now, I had grown accustomed to calling him Mr. B. – a tip I received was OK from his assistant, Katelyn. I called Mr. B to inform him we would be running his story in our print edition, which is rare as Forbes only publishes a hardcover six times a year. We laughed, and Mr. B agreed to do another photoshoot, this time in front of the gigantic bookshelf in his Louisville, Kentucky office. Mr. B asked me to schedule the photoshoot over the next two weeks.

“Thank you, Mr. B,” I repeated. “No problem. Talk to you later,” he responds.

Hours later, Junior Bridgeman died. He was 71.

Today, I know Mr. B was more than a former professional basketball player. He was more than a successful businessperson. Instead, he was a beloved figure because of how he treated people – no matter who you are. In some sports circles, Mr. B will go down as the player who was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played 10 seasons with the franchise, never earning more than $350,000 annually. Still, Mr. B invested his NBA earnings wisely – buying fast food franchises and eventually a Coca-Cola bottling company.

In February, Forbes estimated his worth to have reached $1.4 billion.

It was an honor to report that Junior Bridgeman joined the great Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James on the NBA’s Mount Rushmore of Billionaires.

Throughout that time reporting, here’s a significant lesson I learned from Mr. B: The saying, “Closed mouths don’t get fed,” or ask for what you want, is all true.

In October 2024, I first met Mr. B., introducing myself at the Philadelphia 76ers-Bucks game. There, I asked for what I wanted – a Forbes photoshoot. Internally, it’s mandatory for cover stories. Though Mr. B was reluctant, we agreed – photo, no video. A fair compromise. He then grabbed my hand firmly, and we shook on it. Later, I understood that a handshake meant something more. He appreciated that I asked for what I wanted. That’s partially how Mr. B became a billionaire. During his NBA playing days, he personally arranged meetings with as many CEOs in each city as possible to soak up business knowledge. Those lessons helped Mr. B post-NBA, as he ran over 500 fast food restaurants, most of which sold for $250 million.

“Just a super nice guy,” says Michael Proman, managing partner at Scrum Ventures. Before his role in the venture world, Proman worked in the NBA’s business office, where he interacted with a retired Mr. B. Proman recalls once arranging a Careerbuilder.com “Legends in Business” discussion with Mr. B. After a long conversation, Mr. B remained enthusiastic about making additional time to talk.

“Completely selfless,” Proman says of Mr. B during a call following his death. More calls followed. Our friend Charles Grantham broke down in tears when we spoke. I called Isiah Thomas, who had just stepped off a plane when he found out. I had to give him a moment.

But the call on Tuesday morning remains on replay. The final thank you. The agreement was that Mr. B and I would speak later. The decision to call Mr. B in the morning instead of that afternoon is all on replay. It feels strange – to talk with someone hours before the individual unexpectedly dies. The texts among friends suggest I should feel grateful that I was able to write the last profile on Mr. B, which means something in the journalism world. It’s like the final portrait of the great Muhammad Ali. I also learned a decade’s knowledge from Mr. B in months. So, I suppose feeling grateful is valid. However, it still feels strange, and hasn’t fully set in that Mr. B is gone.

The great Junior Bridgeman will never be forgotten, as ForbesBLK will continue to honor his legacy. But selfishly, there will be no more calls, texts, or photo shoot requests. Just a salute to the sky to celebrate an icon.

Thanks again, Mr. B.

My One Interesting Read: How This Legendary NBA Sixth Man Became A Billionaire.

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