Giannis Antetokounmpo: From NBA Stardom to Family Values and Legacy

Giannis Antetokounmpo is perhaps one of the most famous basketball players on the planet. But he’s not the only Antetokounmpo to play in the NBA.

The son of Nigerian immigrants born in Greece, Antetokounmpo’s story is now well known – from selling pirated CDs on the streets of Athens to producing a Disney film about family.

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As Giannis’ star grew, attention turned not only to his brothers, but also to his mother and father, and now to his wife and infant sons.

What does Antetokoumpo’s family tree look like? Here are the details on how many brothers have played in the NBA and who the rest of Antetokounmpo’s family is.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s older brother: Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Thanasis is the most famous of the Antetokounmpo brothers – or Antetokounbros, as they called themselves. He is Giannis’ older brother and the first born in Athens.

Just like Giannis, he also started playing youth club basketball with Filathlitikos’ junior teams in 2008. He worked his way up to the senior team.

After initially declaring for the 2013 NBA Draft, he withdrew from the draft on the day of the withdrawal deadline. He initially entered the draft alongside his younger brother Giannis, who was ultimately drafted 15th overall by the Bucks. When Giannis’ name was announced, it was Thanasis standing next to him waving the Greek flag.

He spent a season with the Delaware 76ers in the NBA G-League before finally being selected for the 2014 NBA Draft, won in the second round by the New York Knicks.

After some back and forth between the Knicks and their G-League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, the NBA Knicks decided not to renew Thanasis’ contract and he left for Europe, where he played with Andorra and Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos before the Milwaukee Bucks signed. him in July 2019.

He won a championship with the Bucks alongside his brother in 2021.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's family tree: Meet the Bucks All-Star's brothers Thanasis, Kostas and Alex, wife Mariah & kids | Sporting News

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother: Kostas Antetokounmpo

Kostas is the younger brother of Thanasis and Giannis, as well as the older brother of Alex (which we’ll get to in a minute). Like his two sisters, Kostas plays for Filathlikos in Athens.

He then moved to the United States to play high school basketball in 2013 when Giannis was drafted by the Bucks. At Dominican High School, Kostas helped the team win a championship as a senior.

Kostas played college ball at the University of Dayton before entering the 2018 NBA Draft. Like Thanasis, Kostas was selected in the second round of the draft (60th overall) by the Philadelphia 76ers and was immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks. He signed a two-way deal and went back and forth between the NBA and G-League during his rookie season.

He was waived by the Mavericks in 2019 and the Los Angeles Lakers claimed he would win an NBA title in 2020 – becoming not only the first player of Greek descent to win an NBA title, but also the first among brothers Antetokounmpo did it too.

He currently plays for ASVEL Basket in the French Championship.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's family tree: Meet the Bucks All-Star's brothers Thanasis, Kostas and Alex, wife Mariah & kids | Sporting News

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s brother: Alex Antetokounmpo

Alex, the youngest brother who moved to the United States when Giannis was drafted, also played for Dominican High School in Wisconsin, like his older brother Kostas.

Alex decided to drop out of college and play professionally in Europe before declaring for the NBA in 2021. He hasn’t graduated yet, but he signed with the United States’ G-League affiliate. Toronto Raptors, Raptors 905, after Summer League.

After one season with the Raptors 905, Alex was traded to the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks’ G League affiliate. Now, Giannis, Thanasis and Alex are all members of the Bucks organization.

The Wisconsin Herd acquired the returning player rights of Alex Antetokounmpo and a second-round pick in the 2023 NBA G League Draft from the Raptors 905 in exchange for the returning player rights of Jalen Lecque.

: https://t.co/9p8oeKe8at pic.twitter.com/vIkhZUjPA5

— Wisconsin Herd (@WisconsinHerd) July 25, 2022

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s children: Liam and Maverick

Giannis welcomed his first son Liam Charles Antetokounmpo on February 10, 2020.

In May 2021, the couple announced that they were expecting their second child together.

“My son has taught me more about patience, perseverance and passion over the last 15 months than I will ever imagine. But above all, it opened my eyes to my true potential. I’ve survived sleepless nights, teething, and toddler tantrums, and at this point I feel invincible,” Mariah Riddlesprigger, Antetokounmpo’s wife, wrote on Instagram. “Oh and I forgot to mention that baby number 2 is on the way and I still have life lessons to learn! My children are my greatest blessing and lesson!

Baby Liam rests in his father’s arms after the Bucks’ Game 6 championship victory in 2021.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's family tree: Meet the Bucks All-Star's brothers Thanasis, Kostas and Alex, wife Mariah & kids | Sporting News

Growing up in a close-knit family as a child, Giannis constantly emphasizes the love he has for his family and what they mean to him.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s partner: Mariah Riddlesprigger

Giannis’ partner, Mariah Riddlesprigger, was a star athlete in college. She played volleyball at Rice University in Texas.

She and Giannis have been together since 2017, when they were first spotted during All-Star Weekend in New Orleans.

Today, she runs her own clothing line called “Sincerely Mariah” and is always ready to support Giannis in all his important moments on the court, alongside their two children.

Giannis Antetokounmpo's family tree: Meet the Bucks All-Star's brothers Thanasis, Kostas and Alex, wife Mariah & kids | Sporting News

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s parents: Veronica and Charles Antetokounmpo

Giannis is very close to his father Charles, a former professional footballer in Nigeria.

Sadly, Charles died of a heart attack while in Milwaukee in 2017. He was only 54 years old. The death came as a shock to Giannis and his family.

To this day, Giannis still credits his father for instilling his work ethic in him.

“He instills in you a ‘don’t give a fuck’ mentality,” Giannis told ESPN. “I feel like toughness, I always have, but that ‘don’t give’ mentality, whether I win, whether I lose, whether I play good or bad, I just go out there and I continue. Like, what’s the worst that could happen?

When he released his first Nike signature sneaker, Giannis also included the phrase “I am my father’s legacy” on his shoes as a tribute to Charles.

Giannis’ mother, Veronica, is also an athlete who competes in high jump in Nigeria.

Giannis called his mother a “hero” in his 2019 MVP award acceptance speech.

“If you have good parents, they always see a future for you and she sees a future in us,” he said. “She always believed in us. She was always there for us [and] she was the foundation of this family.”

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