Giannis Sina Ougko Antetokounmpo, better known as Giannis Antetokounmpo, is a Greek professional basketball player who now plays for the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks (NBA). He wasn’t picked in the first round since he was a raw talent, but he has earned his spot on his squad.
Despite his height of 6’11”, he can play guard and small forward. He’s not a horrible shooter, but he’s erratic at times. He is of Nigerian origin. His quickness and ball-handling abilities as a guard earned him the moniker “Greek Freak.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo Early Life
Giannis Antetokounmpo was born on December 6, 1994 in Athens as Giannis Adetokunbo. He is the Greek-born son of Nigerian immigrants, Charles and Veronica. His parents were of Nigerian heritage and illegally moved to Greece from Lagos in 1991.
He has two older brothers, Thanasis and Francis, as well as two younger brothers, Kostas and Alex. Because his parents were unable to find work, he and his brother Thanasis supplemented their income by peddling handbags, watches, and sunglasses on the streets.
Giannis is not married, but he is in a live-in relationship with professional volleyball player Mariah Riddlesprigger, with whom he has two sons, 2-year-old Liam and 6-month-old Maverick Shai.
Antetokounmpo began playing basketball in 2007. He was stateless for the first 18 years of his life because he was unable to go outside of Greece due to his lack of Greek citizenship. He finally obtained Greek citizenship in May 2013, just before the NBA draught. Antetokounmpo also possesses Nigerian citizenship.
In the semi-pro Greek B Basket League, Antetokounmpo started his playing career in 2011 with the senior men’s team of Filathlitikos. The next year, he agreed to a four-year contract with the Spanish club CAI Zaragoza.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Net Worth
He is a well-known player with a net worth of $110 million. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the NBA’s most seasoned player, with a salary of $45 million per year.
Giannis has a number of significant endorsement agreements, including one for Nike’s shoes. He inked a “long-term” sponsorship deal with Nike in November 2017. Between June 2017 and June 2018, Giannis earned $35 million in salary and endorsement payments. He earned $43 million between June 2018 and June 2019. From endorsements, he gets at least $10 million every year.
In September 2016, Giannis agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal with the Bucks.
On December 15, 2020, Giannis extended his deal with the Bucks for five years and $228 million. At the time of signing, it was the richest contract in NBA history in terms of cash per season. The contract includes a $45 million annual salary.
He will make $256 million over the next six seasons if the last year of his old contract is counted.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Wife and Girlfriend
Mariah Riddlesprigger is Giannis’s girlfriend’s name. He is not married, but they are in a live-in relationship. They have two lovely sons, Liam and Maverick Shai.
California’s Fresno was the place of Mariah Riddlesprigger’s birth on September 17, 1992. She is a Former American volleyball player. Mariah is a sweet lady who leads a modest and happy life. She rose to prominence following her connection with NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Biography in Brief
| Name: | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| Nick Name: | The Greek Freak |
| Age: | 27 |
| Born: | 6 December 1994 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) |
| Weight: | 242 lbs / 110 kg |
| Country of Origin: | Athens, Greek |
| Net Worth/Salary | $110 Million/ $45 Million |
| Wife/Girlfriend | Mariah Riddlesprigger |
| Relationship Status | Single – Not Married (Live-in) |
| Kids- 2 Sons | Liam and Maverick Shai |
| Father | Charles Antetokounmpo |
| Mother | Veronica Antetokounmpo |
| Siblings (2 Brothers) | Thanasis, Francis, Kostas & Alex |
| Social Media | Twiiter – Instagram – Facebook |
Giannis Antetokounmpo Career
1- During the 2011-2012 season, Giannis joined Filathlitikos’ senior men’s team and played in Greece’s third-tier semi-pro league, the Greek 3rd Division.
2- During the 2012-2013 season, he played in Greece’s second-tier basketball competition, the Greek A2 League.
3- In December 2012, he signed a four-year contract with Spanish club CAI Zaragoza, Starting from the 2013-2014 season. He was also approached by Barcelona, Efes, and other important European clubs.
4- He stayed at Filanthlitikos for the rest of the 2012-2013 season.
5- In April 2013, he declared for the 2013 NBA Draft. In the first round of the 2013 NBA draught, the Milwaukee Bucks picked him with the 15th overall choice and signed him to a rookie scale deal.
6- During his debut season with the Bucks, he averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks.
7- He was also chosen to compete in the NBA All-Star Weekend Rising Stars Challenge in New Orleans.
8- He was chosen to the NBA All-Rookie second team in 2013-2014.
9- He then competed in the 2015 NBA Slam Dunk Contest in New York during NBA All-Star Weekend.
10- During the 2014-2015 season, he averaged 12.7 points and 6.7 rebounds for the Bucks, who concluded the regular season with a 41-41 record.
11- In February 2016, he had his first career triple-double with 27 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
12- At 21, he was also the youngest Buck to accomplish a triple-double.
13- During the 2015-2016 season, he became the first Bucks player to record four triple-doubles in a single season.
14- He also became only the fifth NBA player to lead in all five major statistical categories, including points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks, and the first player in NBA history to finish in the top 20 in all five major categories in a regular season during the 2016-2017 season. and till now he is playing for Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Stats
Achievements
1- He matched Michael Redd’s streak of scoring at least 20 points in 14 straight games, which he set in 2006.
2- At 22 years and 74 days old, he became the franchise’s youngest player to start an All-Star Game.
3- In his 27th consecutive game during the 2017-2018 season, he became the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in the 2000-2001 season to have at least 20 points and five rebounds.
4- In January 2018, he became the second-youngest Buck to record a 20-20 game, trailing only Andrew Bogut.
5- He became the first Buck since Marques Johnson in 1979-80 to be named to two consecutive NBA All-Star Games.
6- During the 2017-2018 season, he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most career triple-doubles.
7- He became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain in 1964-1965 to start the season with four straight 25-point, 15-rebound games.
8- He broke a tie with Shaquille O’Neal for the most points, rebounds, and assists in a single season since 1976-77, when he had at least 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists.
9- He is the first Bucks player to earn Player of the Month several times.
10- On January 5, 2019, he recorded 43 points and 18 rebounds in a 123-116 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
11- On January 9th, he scored 27 points and grabbed a season-high 21 rebounds in a 116-109 victory over the Houston Rockets.
12- On March 2, he had 43 points and 14 rebounds in a 115-111 defeat to the Utah Jazz, and on March 17, he had a career-high 52 points and 16 rebounds in a 110-125 loss to the 76ers.
13- He had 45 points and 13 rebounds in a 128-122 win over the 76ers on April 4th, helping the Bucks capture the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
14- He had 39 points and 16 rebounds in Game 4 of the second round against the Boston Celtics, helping the Bucks take a 3-1 series lead with a 113-101 win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Interesting Facts
1-His hands are 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) long, nearly three inches longer than LeBron James’.
2- He used to sell watches, toys, purses, and sunglasses to help his family make ends meet.
3- He never played for a first-division team in Europe; his Greek club, Filathlitikos, was in the second division when he played there and was relegated to the third division shortly after Antetokounmpo left for the NBA.
4- He held a contract with Zaragoza in the Spanish ACB League before entering the NBA draught. According to the New York Times, the contract would have paid him $325,000 over three seasons.
5- He obtained his Greek passport just one month before the NBA draught in 2013.
6- During his debut season, he was the NBA’s youngest player.
7- In his first year in the league, he grew two inches.
8- On his phone, he frequently saves critical comments as screenshots.
9- In 2014, he had a smoothie for the first time and fell in love with it.
10- Thanasis, his brother, plays for Panathinaikos in Greece.
11- He prefers the moniker “Greek Freak.”
12- He has stated that he will not leave Milwaukee until a championship-caliber squad is established there.
13- He intends to return to Greek pro basketball when he reaches the age of 40.
