Greek-Nigerian basketball star, Giannis Antetokounmpo married his long-term partner, Mariah Riddlesprigger, the mother of his three children, in Greece on Sunday.
The ceremony took place at the luxurious Costa Navarino resort near Pylos in the Peloponnese, capping off three days of celebrations that included a white-themed party on Friday and a Nigerian-themed event on Saturday, as reported by Greek media.
Antetokounmpo’s close friend and Milwaukee Bucks teammate, Khris Middleton served as the two-time NBA MVP’s best man during the “hybrid” Orthodox and Catholic ceremony, according to reports. Notable guests included NBA legend, LeBron James, Greece’s National team coach, Vassilis Spanoulis, and Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis with his family, among the approximately 200 attendees.
Known as the “Greek Freak,” The Milwaukee Bucks Forward is celebrated as one of Greece’s top global ambassadors, having risen to the pinnacle of basketball despite a challenging, poverty-stricken childhood that mirrors the experiences of many migrant children in Greece.
The son of Nigerian immigrants who arrived in Athens in 1991 seeking a better life, Antetokounmpo was born and raised in working-class neighborhoods of the Greek capital, where he helped his family by selling trinkets on the streets.
The couple prioritized privacy for their wedding, with the Proto Thema newspaper reporting that everyone involved in the event signed confidentiality agreements to ensure the ceremony remained out of the public eye.
