Giannis Antetokounmpo recently shared personal insights into his relationship with his wife, Mariah Riddlesprigger, defending her against online comments that question their pairing. In an appearance on “AnesTea The Podcast,” Antetokounmpo addressed remarks suggesting he could have a relationship with a model.
"I am with my wife because she tells me the truth," Antetokounmpo stated. "She loves me, she will tell me whenever I do anything wrong. She will tell my kids the truth. I know that she will kill for my kids and she would even kill me for them. I know that she won’t let my kids get a big head, and that’s the most important thing for me. I am in love. I am in love with her. As a woman and as a mother."
The couple met during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in 2014. Antetokounmpo recalled knowing immediately that Riddlesprigger would be his wife. After an initial attempt to connect didn't immediately work, she later expressed a desire to get to know him. This led to Antetokounmpo flying to Miami to spend time with her.
"She was like, ‘Say less.’ A week later, I was in Miami, and she showed up. I was like, ‘You came?’ She said, ‘Yeah, I want to get to know you.’ Then she started spending time with my mom and my dad while he was still alive," he recounted. "From the moment she came to Miami until today, she has never left my side. Now we have four kids."
Riddlesprigger has been a consistent presence in Antetokounmpo's life as he rose from a prospect to an NBA champion. Their first child, Liam Charles Antetokounmpo, was born in February 2020. They have since had three more children: Maverick Shai, Eva Brooke, and Aria Capri. The couple married in a private ceremony in Greece in August 2024.
Antetokounmpo, who was recently traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, played 36 games in the 2025 season, averaging 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists, before being sidelined by knee issues.