Remember when Giannis Antetokounmpo won his second consecutive MVP title? At that time, the Lakers were leading the Western Conference. The Greek Freak’s Bucks were one of the favorites to win the championship. Guess who finished second in the MVP race? It was LeBron Jameswho just won his fourth ring. This was the peak of the rivalry between the two. Despite this, Giannis always had respect for LeBron “The King” James.

Giannis called LeBron the best player in the world after his fourth championship title, even though he was voted MVP for the second time in a row. “He is the best player in the world right now. It doesn’t matter who the MVP is, he is the best,” Giannis said. But his praise for the King didn’t end there. In 2023, Giannis praised LeBron for giving players a blueprint for how to be the best version of themselves on the court and become a better person off the court as well.

“For 21 years, you never get in trouble, you can take your family in, protect them, raise your kids properly, be happily married, all those things, it’s perfect. He’s kind of the blueprint for all of us on how we move forward. That’s what I want. I want to be able to do what I do on the court consistently, be good, be healthy, be available for my team, be able to raise my family in a bubble away from what I do on the court.” Said Giannis.

A year later, Giannis invited LeBron to his wedding at Costa Navarino. Moreover, this special occasion will take place from August 30 to September 1. The 2x MVP has decided to keep this event private with about 200 guests. This includes LeBron James and even Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. How private, you might think? Guests will have to hand over their phones before entering the venue. The couple will choose professional photographers to take care of their wedding photos.

The event will be private but luxurious. Guests will be transported to the venue by helicopters from Kalamata airport. The wedding will also have a unique tradition, as Giannis comes from Orthodox families, while his fiancée is Catholic. But who is Giannis’ future wife?

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mariah have been together for almost a decade

Giannis and her fiancée Mariah Riddlesprigger have been together since 2016. The couple have been together ever since and got engaged in September 2023. Their firstborn, Liam, was born in February 2020, shortly before the league suspended the remainder of the season.

When Giannis won his first title the following year, he and his wife announced the birth of their second son, Maverick Shai, in September 2021. The couple also has their youngest child, their daughter Eva Brooke. While they are finally planning their wedding, Giannis will have had a memorable offseason this year. It will be interesting to see if Giannis and Mariah share their wedding photos on social media later on.

What do you think about Giannis’ private wedding? Let us know in the comments.

Looking for another basketball update? Check out this recent interview with Georgia Lady Bulldogs rising star Asia Avinger.