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Giannis Antetokounmpo recently gave his first interview to a non-sports media outlet in Greece, reiterating his dream of finishing his career in his home country.
During his appearance on “2night show,” a Greek adaptation of American late-night talk shows, Giannis was quite clear about his aspirations for retirement.
He stated: “At 30 years old, I believe I can continue playing in the NBA until I’m 36-38. I’d love to conclude my career with a Greek team—why not? My intention is not to stay in America. Once I leave the NBA, my goal is to return to Greece. Whether it’s Filathlitikos, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, or Aris, I’m considering all teams at this point.”
Giannis also expressed his wish to raise his family in Greece, addressing the recent false reports regarding his wife and children relocating to Athens, and spoke fondly of his family and his wife, Mariah.
He shared that his mother’s approval of Mariah played a significant role in their marriage. “Mariah was my first girlfriend, and I married her,” he remarked. “If my mother had expressed that ‘Giannis, this isn’t the right girl for you,’ I would have respected her opinion and let her go.”
“She is the love of my life,” he added, talking about Mariah. “She has given me my children, which is the greatest blessing. I am happy with four and, if God allows, we might strive for a fifth.”
Giannis also noted that Mariah initially turned down his advances, but he persisted. “In 2015, I had a friend approach her on my behalf, but she said no. I tried again in 2016, assuring her I was a genuinely good guy and suggesting we could be friends. A year later, she reached out to me, and we began to communicate,” he recalled.
