Who is Giannis Antetokounmpo's girlfriend? Mariah Riddlesprigger is expecting their second baby
With the NBA Finals Game 6 coming closer, Giannis Antetokounmpo has almost reached legend status. After losing Games 1 and 2 on the road, the Milwaukee Bucks almost resurrected by defeating the Phoenix Suns 120-100 in the first of two home games on July 13 behind a 41-point, 13-rebound performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo put together a 40/10/5 effort for the first time in this series. Only Shaquille O'Neal (twice), LeBron James (five times), Kevin Durant, and Jimmy Butler have ever done it in the NBA Finals. A Bucks victory would instantly elevate the two-time MVP to mythical status, since delivering a championship to a low-key market like Milwaukee is an accomplishment in and of itself, especially since the Bucks haven't won an NBA championship since 1971.
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Beyond the pitch, NBA stars have recently been in the news for their dating lives. Last week, we reported that Clippers guard Patrick Beverley's girlfriend was once allegedly 'stolen' by rapper Drake. Earlier in April, NBA legend Paul Pierce was seen drinking and partying with strippers in a live video, putting the spotlight on his married life. So here's what's to know about the Greek Freak's love life.
Who is Giannis Antetokounmpo's girlfriend?
Giannis Antetokounmpo is a well-known basketball star, but his personal life has only recently come to light. Mariah Riddlesprigger is Antetokounmpo's girlfriend. Liam Charles, aptly nicknamed 'Baby Freak', is the couple's son, who was born in February last year, and the couple is expecting their second child soon. Riddlesprigger, 28, who was born in Fresno, California in September 1992, shared the news on Instagram this May.
According to Fansided, Riddlesprigger attended Rice University in Texas. Standing at 5-foot-10, she was an avid volleyball player at Bullard High School, California, and became a star college player during her four years at Rice, from where she graduated with a degree in Sport Management and Sociology, according to Clutch Points. She, like Antetokounmpo, has athletic and sports-loving siblings.
While it's unclear how Riddlesprigger got to be Giannis Antetokounmpo's girlfriend, rumors suggest they've been dating for at least three years, reported Gossip Cop. Since the meeting, the pair have been almost inseparable, spending much of their off-season in Antetokounmpo's native Greece. Riddlesprigger paid homage to the lovely country in an Instagram picture late last year.
"I’m blessed to spend my summers in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I enjoy walking the streets of the different neighborhoods we have lived in and taking the metro and bus (pre-Covid)! I LOVE the food and more specifically, lukamades! I’m learning the language, but I definitely have a long way to go. The water is the clearest I have ever seen and the sunsets are unbelievable. But the greatest thing about Greece is that I’ve got to visit the places and meet the people that are a part of Giannis’ story!" she wrote in the post.
Riddlesprigger's father, Pat, who played Division I basketball for Fresno State University, was a basketball fanatic. She did, however, finally create her own niche in sports business, Clutch Points reported. Riddlesprigger began her career at Rice University's ticket office. She then leveraged her previous expertise to secure an internship with the Philadelphia 76ers. She had the chance to meet some high-profile NBA figures, including Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks.
Acknowledging that most NBA stars have supermodel or influencer girlfriends, Riddlesprigger said in an interview to TMJ4, "You see people that come out and say, 'oh she's not a supermodel.' You're right, I'm not and I'm not going to ever be, that's not who I am." She also has her own clothing brand, 'Sincerely, Mariah'. "That's how I express how I feel. T-shirts, sweats, so I thought what's a better way to show who I am and get my message out there at the same time," she said.
"My mom said that a lot. She always reminds me that you're good enough, you're beautiful enough, and don't let anyone take that away from you. It's just a reminder that you're worthy because of who you are, undeniably, no matter what," she added.