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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 professional career in his homeland.
He appeared on the “2night show,” a Greek adaptation of popular American late-night programs, where he spoke candidly about his career aspirations.
At 30 years old, he stated, “I can continue playing in the NBA until I’m 36 or 38. I envision concluding my career with a Greek team, if possible. My preference is not to stay in America forever. Once I leave the NBA, I want to return to Greece. I could retire with any team here, whether it’s Filathlitikos, Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, Aris, or any other.”
Giannis also shared his wish to raise his family in Greece, addressing the inaccurate reports about his wife and children relocating to Athens, and spoke fondly about his family and his partner, Mariah.
When discussing Mariah, he mentioned that his mother’s approval played a significant role in his decision to marry her. “Mariah was my first girlfriend, and I chose to marry her,” he explained. “If my mother had disapproved and said, ‘Giannis, this isn’t the right woman for you,’ I would have let her go.”
“She is the love of my life,” he further elaborated on his relationship with Mariah. “She has given me my children, which is the most precious gift. I am content with four; if fate allows, we might aim for a fifth.”
The Greek superstar also disclosed that Mariah initially rebuffed his advances, but he persisted.
“I had a friend approach her in 2015, but she turned me down. I tried again in 2016. I’m a nice guy and said we could just be friends. A year later, she reached out to me, and we connected,” Giannis reminisced.
