Profile Text
Antetokounmpo in 2014, photo by Keith Allison
Birth Name: Gianni Sina Ugo Antetokounmpo/Adetokunbo
Place of Birth: Athens, Greece
Date of Birth: 6 December, 1994
Ethnicity: Nigerian [Yoruba, Igbo]
Giannis Antetokounmpo, known as the “Greek Freak,” is a Greek professional basketball player. A power forward and center, he plays for the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was previously with Filathlitikos, a Greek club. He is 6′11″.
Giannis was born in Athens, to Nigerian parents, Veronica and Charles, from Lagos. His father was Yoruba. His mother is Igbo. His father was a professional soccer player. His mother was a competitive high jumper. He holds Greek citizenship, which he attained in 2013, and Nigerian citizenship, which he obtained in 2015. He was legally stateless before that, as Greece does not have birthright citizenship. Giannis has represented Greece internationally. His Nigerian name is Ougko. His surname Antetokounmpo means “the crown has returned from overseas.”
He is a sibling of professional basketball players Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Kostas Antetokounmpo, and Alex Antetokounmpo.
Giannis has been baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church. He is married to American entrepreneur and volleyball player Mariah Riddlesprigger, with whom he has four children.