Take a look back at Giannis Antetokounmpo’s unparalleled journey from unheralded 18-year-old to NBA champion and superstar during his time with the Milwaukee Bucks.
June 27, 2013: The Milwaukee Bucks make Giannis Antetokounmpo the 15th pick in the NBA draft
A relative unknown, Antetokounmpo first came to the attention of Bucks general manager John Hammond thanks to a recommendation from assistant GM Jeff Weltman. The Bucks weren’t the only team in the hunt; Atlanta (two picks after Milwaukee) badly wanted Antetokounmpo. But it was Milwaukee who made the fateful call at No. 15.
“There’s no question there were safer picks but nothing with this kind of upside, nothing close to this,” Hammond said on draft night. “That’s the key component of what we have here.”
Antetokounmpo at the time was 6-foot-9 and 196 pounds, and he was still six months away from turning 19 years old. The Bucks introduced him at a news conference in Milwaukee on June 28, along with second-round pick Nate Wolters.
July 30, 2013: Bucks trade for Khris Middleton
In the midst of an offseason remodel, the Bucks traded restricted free agent Brandon Jennings in a sign-and-trade exchange with Detroit, acquiring point guard Brandon Knight and a couple of other wild cards: forward Khris Middleton and center Viacheslav Kravtsov.
Middleton, of course, ultimately became Antetokounmpo’s running mate on the journey to an NBA championship. Hammond’s overhaul included the acquisition of free agents O.J. Mayo and Gary Neal, trading for Racine native Caron Butler, shipping out Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, reacquiring Zaza Pachulia and Luke Ridnour, and bidding adieu to free agents Monta Ellis, JJ Redick and Mike Dunleavy Jr. He also hired head coach Larry Drew.
Oct. 30, 2013: Giannis makes NBA debut
Antetokounmpo saw the floor for just shy of 5 minutes, scoring his first career point at the free-throw line in a 90-83 loss in the season opener to the New York Knicks. Two nights later, Antetokounmpo hit his first two field goals in a win over the Boston Celtics. The Bucks committed to putting Antetokounmpo on the floor early in his career, especially in a lost season when the Bucks finished a franchise-worst 15-67.
On Nov. 30, Antetokounmpo chased down Boston’s Jordan Crawford for a block on one end, then took a feed and elevated for a memorable dunk that offered a glimpse of the future. Seven days earlier, a fan had given him a ride to practice because he’d sent all his money to his family back home in Greece.
On Dec. 18, Antetokounmpo made his first start and played 42 minutes in a double-overtime loss to the Knicks. He started every game until late January, then came off the bench for more than 25 minutes per contest. He finished the year averaging 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
Unforgettably Giannis: Jan. 20, 2014 – The Smoothie Tweet
In an iconic post to social media, Antetokounmpo declared he had just tried a smoothie for the first time. “I just taste for the first time a smothie…MAN GOD BLESS AMERICA” he wrote. It was one of many endearing chapters in the saga of young Antetokounmpo.
Feb. 3, 2014: Giannis’ family arrives in Milwaukee
For the first time, Antetokounmpo was able to bring his parents and siblings to Milwaukee, with the Bucks fulfilling a promise they made to the young star. Charles and Veronica, as well as brothers Kostas and Alex, were in attendance to watch to the Bucks defeat the Knicks, with Antetokounmpo scoring 15 points – one shy of his career best.
Getting Antetokounmpo’s family from Greece to Wisconsin required a coordination of work from team owner Herb Kohl and special assistant JoAnne Anton.
April 7, 2014: Bucks ownership changes
Kohl officially transfered ownership of the Bucks to Marc Lasry and Wesley Edens, simultaneously committing $100 million toward a new arena. In July, the new owners announced Jason Kidd would take over as head coach, replacing first-year coach Larry Drew. The Bucks also selected Jabari Parker with the No. 2 pick in the draft in June, a player the franchise envisioned as a prominent fixture in the team’s future. One pick later, the 76ers took a gamble on then-injured Joel Embiid.
Unforgettably Giannis: Feb. 11, 2015 – ‘How old are you?’
Reggie Evans of Sacramento was sitting on his team’s bench and asked Antetokounmpo, on the floor in the middle of game play, how old he was. Antetokounmpo earnestly responded he was 20 years old, eliciting an awe-struck response from Evans that went viral. Antetokounmpo scored 13 points in the game, a 111-103 win over the Kings. Two days later, Antetokounmpo competed in the All-Star weekend Rising Stars game in Brooklyn, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the world team.
Unforgettably Giannis: April 30, 2015 – The Mike Dunleavy play
Antetokounmpo’s first playoff series was unsuccessful, a six-game loss to the Chicago Bulls that nonetheless provided some fascinating moments, including a buzzer beater to force Game 5 and an ejection that forced him from the series early.
Mike Dunleavy Jr., a Bucks player two years earlier, had rankled Bucks players with what was perceived as some cheap shots, and Antetokounmpo turned a box-out into a clear out when he sent Dunleavy into the first row of the crowd at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.
Antetokounmpo was assessed a flagrant-2 and ejected. The Bucks lost in lopsided fashion, 120-66, but Antetokounmpo left an impression, though he apologized after the fact. He was suspended for the first game of the following season.
Dec. 12, 2015: Golden State Warriors fall to 24-1
Facing one of the greatest teams in NBA history, Milwaukee put an end to Golden State’s undefeated start to the 2015-16 season with a 108-95 victory at the Bradley Center, sending the Warriors to merely 24-1.
Unforgettably Giannis: Feb. 22, 2016 – Triple-double with Kobe watching
Antetokounmpo had talked about his respect for and friendship with Kobe Bryant, extending to a semi-famous Twitter exchange where he prompted Bryant for new challenges, and Bryant responded with “MVP” and “championship” in succession. With the Lakers star playing his final game in Milwaukee, Antetokounmpo showed his mentor something flashy with his first career triple-double (27 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, plus four blocks and three steals). The Bucks beat the Lakers, 108-101.
Antetokounmpo finished his career in Milwaukee with a franchise-best 56 triple-doubles. Only 11 players in NBA history have more.
Sept. 19, 2016: Giannis signs first extension
The Bucks agreed to a four-year extension with Antetokounmpo worth $100 million, slightly less than the maximum salary. He averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists the previous season. It would be his final year that he wasn’t an all-star and didn’t make the playoffs.
Jan. 4, 2017: Giannis has big-stage moment with Madison Square Garden buzzer-beater
It’s arguably the moment the Antetokounmpo legend was born. Milwaukee was down by 14 heading into the final quarter against the Knicks, but Antetokounmpo scored nine of the team’s final 10 points and scored 13 down the stretch.
The last of those points came on a step-back shot at the buzzer that went through and gave Milwaukee a 105-104 win. It was only a mortal-by-comparison 27-point, 13-rebound effort (along with three blocks and four assists), but it’s his most memorable finish.
The shot came mere hours after he appeared on the regional cover of Sports Illustrated for the first time.
Feb. 19, 2017: Giannis appears in first all-star game
Played in New Orleans, Antetokounmpo became the first Greek player to appear in the NBA All-Star Game. He also became the first Bucks selection since 2004 and led the Eastern Conference that night with 30 points.
April 27, 2017: Giannis, Bucks fall short in playoff series vs. Toronto
Milwaukee won Game 1 and had a 2-1 series lead against the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs, but the Bucks dropped the final three games of the series despite two 30-point performances by Antetokounmpo.
June 26, 2017: Giannis wins Most Improved Player Award
For the first time, a Bucks player won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, with Antetokounmpo recognized for his jump to 22.9 points per game. He also netted MVP votes for the first time, made second-team All-NBA and second-team All-Defense. His teammate, Malcolm Brogdon, became the first second-round draft pick to win Rookie of the Year. Antetokounmpo won his award in a landslide over Denver’s Nikola Jokić − another second-round pick who would later surpass Antetokounmpo’s hardware count with three MVP awards.
Unforgettably Giannis: Oct. 21, 2017 – Giannis shines in game after father dies unexpectedly
Later dedicating the win to his father, Charles, who had died of a heart attack in late September at age 53, Antetokounmpo finished with a career-high 44 points, none bigger than the 2 he scored on a breakaway dunk after he poked the ball away from Portland’s CJ McCollum with 16 seconds to go and the Bucks trailing, 110-109. Not only that, he subsequently blocked a shot by Jusuf Nurkic near the rim that could have given the lead back to Portland. The Bucks wound up walking away with a room-rocking 113-110 win at the Bradley Center.
Unforgettably Giannis: Feb. 6, 2018 – The dunk over Tim Hardaway
This dunk had everything, even though it will be known for Antetokounmpo literally jumping over a 6-foot-6 player in New York’s Tim Hardaway Jr. It had a great alley-oop feed from Middleton, a James-Brown-like screech from TV play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson, the bewildered look of tennis legend John McEnroe in the crowd and, of course, the environment of Madison Square Garden, where Antetokounmpo always seemed to find time to shine.
April 22, 2018: Giannis saves the day in the playoffs
Facing the Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs, Antetokounmpo’s tip-in with 5 seconds left gave the Bucks a 104-102 victory, tying the series at 2-2. Afterward, there was a mini-hubbub when Antetokounmpo was spotted waiting for a table at a local Milwaukee restaurant. The Bucks, however, wound up losing the series in a hard-fought seven games.
Oct. 19, 2018: Fiserv Forum hosts its first game
It was the first game of a new era for Bucks fans, with the opening of Fiserv Forum arena and a 118-101 win over the Indiana Pacers. Antetokounmpo finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds, one night after going 25-18-8 on the road in a win over Charlotte. It was the first year under coach Mike Budenholzer, and it had some amazing moments in store.
Unforgettably Giannis: Feb. 24, 2019 – Giannis keeps working, even through Ja Rule
As part of 90s Night at Fiserv Forum, rapper Ja Rule gave a performance that was remembered a little awkwardly, particularly because Antetokounmpo came out of the locker room at halftime and started putting up shots before it was over.
One week earlier, Antetokounmpo threw down an audacious dunk off an alley-oop bounce pass from Steph Curry at the All-Star game in Charlotte.
Unforgettably Giannis: April 4, 2019 – Giannis dominates the 76ers, earns home-court advantage
In a game that might be remembered for Eric Bledsoe’s ejection over a ball-toss that a 76ers announcer hyperbolically called “the most violent act I’ve seen in years,” Antetokounmpo went off in a 128-122 win in Philadelphia that gave the Bucks home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. He scored 45 points with 13 rebounds, six assists and five blocks (four on Joel Embiid) without committing a turnover. It was the first time someone went 44-10-5 with zero turnovers since Michael Jordan in 1989.
April 22, 2019: First playoff series win
Antetokounmpo became the first player to score 40 points in a playoff game in under 32 minutes, scoring 41 in a 127-104 win over Detroit that completed a dominant four-game sweep in the opening round of the playoffs. For the first time since 2001, the Bucks had won a playoff series, and they were just getting started.
Unforgettably Giannis: April 28, 2019 – ‘I think it’s over’
After dropping Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against Boston, former Celtics star Paul Pierce opined in his ESPN analyst role that he thought the series was over, and that Boston was clearly going to prevail. And, as the joke goes, it was over, just not how Pierce envisioned. The Bucks won the next four games, with Antetokounmpo leading all players in scoring in all four. The 116-91 win at Fiserv Forum on May 8 sent the Bucks to the Eastern Conference finals.
May 25, 2019: Bucks eliminated short of NBA Finals
With a 100-94 loss to Toronto, the Bucks found themselves out of the playoffs after their 60-win regular season, falling short in their first NBA Finals since 1974. The Bucks had a 2-0 series lead and Antetokounmpo averaged 22.7 points, 13.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists over six games, but the Raptors prevailed 4-2 on their way to the NBA championship.
June 24, 2019: Giannis wins first MVP award
During a deeply emotional speech in which Antetokounmpo stressed family and discussed the loss of his father, he accepted the league’s award for most valuable player. Antetokounmpo became the franchise’s first MVP since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1974 and became the fifth MVP to hail from outside the United States. The year was full of hardware for Antetokounmpo, who also earned first-team All-Defense and first-team All-NBA. The 24-year-old led the Bucks to 60 regular-season victories.
July 7, 2019: Bucks sign Thanasis
The older brother of Giannis, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, signed a two-year minimum contract, a move that many viewed as an opportunity to keep Giannis content as he approached a window where he could sign another extension the following summer. Thanasis, already Giannis’ close confidant, became a popular energy player among Bucks fans.
July 10, 2019: Zoom Freak 1 hits stores
Antetokounmpo had long been an athlete contracted with Nike, but the first version of his signature shoe, the Zoom Freak 1, landed on shelves. Several more Zoom Freak installments would follow for a player who landed numerous endorsement deals during his time in Milwaukee.
Sept. 1, 2019: Giannis plays in FIBA World Cup
Antetokounmpo became the first reigning NBA MVP to play in the FIBA World Cup, representing his home country of Greece, though the run lasted only five games before Greece was eliminated.
Unforgettably Giannis: Dec. 19, 2019 – Crowning himself
In a nationally televised showcase against the Los Angeles Lakers, Antetokounmpo hit a career-best five 3-pointers on eight attempts. After one make in the fourth quarter, he “crowned” himself with a gesture that went viral, perhaps stealing the torch from “King” LeBron James on the other bench. Antetokounmpo finished with 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in the 111-104 win.
It was also a fun moment for the Antetokounmpo family, with Kostas on the Lakers roster, meaning three brothers were part of the game.
Feb. 10, 2020: Giannis’ first child is born
Liam Charles Antetokonumpo joined the world to parents Giannis and Mariah Riddlesprigger, now Giannis’ wife. Today, Liam is the oldest of four Antetokounmpo children.
Unforgettably Giannis: Feb. 28, 2020 – Beef with James Harden picks up steam
Ah, simple times before everything went wrong. James Harden, the reigning MVP whom Antetokounmpo had bypassed in the MVP voting after the 2018-19 season, took exception to Antetokounmpo’s seemingly playful jab at Harden during an all-star selection show, when team “captains” chose the players from the all-star pool for the forthcoming game. Antetokounmpo said he wanted someone who would pass the ball and declined to add Harden to his team. Harden, however, didn’t see the humor and shot back during an ESPN interview, “… I wish I could run and (be) 7 feet and just run and dunk. Like that takes no skill at all. I gotta actually learn how to play basketball and how to have skill. I’ll take that any day.”
In the game itself on Feb. 17, Antetokounmpo had another great showing (25-11-4-3), though Team LeBron prevailed in a thrilling finish 157-155 in Chicago.
March 11, 2020: COVID-19 forces cancellation of remaining NBA season
The Bucks had the best record in the league when the NBA announced it would be canceling the rest of the season following a positive COVID-19 test by Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert. The disappointment was significant, though the broader health landscape ultimately would make it look like a no-brainer, with the entire world disrupted by the pandemic.
Aug. 26, 2020: Bucks stage a wildcat strike
The NBA was able to resume by July 31, contained in the “bubble” environment in Orlando established solely for the partial completion of the NBA season and postseason. Following a shooting in Kenosha, when a police officer shot 29-year-old Black man Jacob Blake seven times, the Bucks declined to play Game 5 of their playoff series with the Magic, an act of protest that soon extended to other teams and other sports leagues.
The Bucks eventually played the game three days later and won 118-104 to advance in the playoffs.
Sept. 6, 2020: Giannis injured in ‘bubble’ playoffs
After falling behind 3-0 in the series against Miami, the top-seeded Bucks were dealt a fatal blow when Antetokounmpo had to leave Game 4 with a right ankle sprain. The Bucks were able to eke out an overtime win but couldn’t replicate that feat without Antetokounmpo in Game 5, falling 103-94 to end the team’s championship hopes.
Sept. 18, 2020: Giannis named MVP for a second time
Antetokounmpo joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and LeBron James as the only players to win two MVP awards before turning age 26. He also was named the league’s defensive player of the year, awarded in August, with 75 first-place votes out of 100.
Nov. 17, 2020: Bucks trade for Jrue Holiday
Looking for that missing ingredient, the Bucks swung a blockbuster trade in the offseason, adding Jrue Holiday from the New Orleans Pelicans. It was a wild night; the Bucks also had a reported deal with Bogdan Bogdanović that fell through when it was regarded as tampering, an act that later forced the Bucks to forfeit a second-round draft pick. To get Holiday, the Bucks surrendered Eric Bledsoe, George Hill and three first-round picks: 2020, 2025 and 2027, plus pick swaps in 2024 and 2026.
Dec. 15, 2020: Giannis signs the Supermax extension
Milwaukee Bucks fans breathed a sigh of relief as Antetokounmpo agreed to stay with the franchise for another five years, signing the “supermax” extension worth $228 million. The commitment came at a strange time, just before Christmas in an offseason that had been pushed into the winter months after the COVID-19 delays of the year before. But it renewed the love Wisconsin had for its unlikely superstar.
March 7, 2021: Giannis named All-Star game MVP
Capturing the title that had eluded him the year before, Antetokounmpo is named All-Star game MVP thanks to a 16-for-16 shooting performance in Team LeBron’s 170-150 win. That marked a new All-Star game record for attempts without a miss. He finished with 35 points and seven rebounds in less than 20 minutes.
June 19, 2021: Kevin Durant’s toe is on the line
In one of the biggest breaks of a championship run, Kevin Durant’s toe was on the line when he unleashed what looked like a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1 second left of regulation during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. Instead, the game went to overtime, where the Bucks prevailed, 115-111. The injury-marred series hadn’t been pretty, but the Bucks advanced despite 48 points form Durant. Antetokounmpo had 40 points and 13 rebounds in the clincher.
June 29, 2021: Giannis suffers what appears to be serious injury
It looked like sure disaster when Antetokounmpo went down with a knee injury in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, an unforgettable scare paired with Atlanta’s 110-88 win that night to tie the series. The Bucks nonetheless rallied with their star on the sideline to win the next two games and advance to the Finals for the first time since 1974. Middleton and Holiday combined for 59 points in the clincher July 3. But would Antetokounmpo be able to play in the next series?
Miraculously, Antetokounmpo was back on the floor July 6 for Game 1 of the NBA Finals in Phoenix. And though the Bucks lost that game 118-105, Milwaukee’s chances improved dramatically with Antetokounmpo’s return.
July 14, 2021: The DeAndre Ayton Block
Call it “The Eclipse.” Antetokounmpo’s remarkable block of DeAndre Ayton set the stage for Milwaukee tying the series at 2-2. Somehow able to surge to the basket from the free-throw line as Devin Booker rolled an alley-oop into the air, Antetokounmpo flew in with 1:14 to go to prevent a game-tying flush. The Bucks had rallied to lead by 2 points at the time, then were able to lock down the win behind 40 points from Middleton, 109-103.
July 17, 2021: The Valley-Oop
Needing a road win in the series, the Bucks took a 3-2 lead over Phoenix in the NBA Finals on the road, even though the Suns had a possession in the final 20 seconds with a chance to take the lead. But Holiday stole the ball from Booker, glided in the other direction and threw a stunning alley-oop to Antetokounmpo, who finished the slam and drew a foul. Milwaukee won the game 123-119.
July 20, 2021: Giannis delivers signature performance as Bucks win NBA championship
Then, there was his magnum opus.
A mere three weeks removed from an injury that looked like it would end his playoffs (and perhaps longer), Giannis was accepting the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP award and hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy. The Bucks had won their first title in 50 years, and Antetokounmpo had scored a playoff career-high 50 points in one of the finest Finals performances ever. His Game 6 effort against the Suns included an uncharacteristically brilliant 17-of-19 showing at the free-throw line. In the same season he signed a Supermax extension to stay in Milwaukee, he brought a title to the only franchise he’d known and capped it with his signature performance.
Unforgettably Giannis: July 21, 2021 – Giannis drives through at Chick-Fil-A
True to his free spirit, Antetokounmpo took his Finals MVP trophy and the championship trophy with him in the car as he drove through a Milwaukee-area Chick-Fil-A, ordering 50 miniature chicken sandwiches to commemorate his 50 points.
Aug. 20, 2021: Giannis becomes part-owner of Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers hadn’t added a new investor in 17 years since Mark Attanasio took over, but they opened a door for Antetokounmpo to become a part-owner, a heady part of his post-championship offseason.
Not long thereafter, Antetokounmpo’s second son, Maverick, is born.
Unforgettably Giannis: March 31, 2022 – Giannis breaks the Bucks scoring record … with a 3-pointer?
Antetokounmpo broke the franchise record for points in an unusual way – with a 3-pointer. But it was a huge one, tying the game late against Brooklyn in the home stretch of the 2022 season, allowing the Bucks to force overtime and eventually win the game. Antetokounmpo scored 44 points in the game to surpass Abdul-Jabbar’s 14,211 points and finishing with 14,216. It was his free throws in overtime with 3 seconds left that tipped the scales for Milwaukee, 120-119.
April 2022: Giannis mural painted in downtown Milwaukee
No matter what, Antetokounmpo is part of the Milwaukee architecture downtown.
Milwaukee artist and Bucks fan Mauricio Ramirez painted a photorealistic three-story mural of Antetokounmpo on the east façade of the 600 EAST building, at 600 East Wisconsin Ave.
May 15, 2022: Playoff heartbreak in Boston
Taken to a seventh game by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Bucks took a 109-81 loss despite 25 points, 20 rebounds and nine assists from Antetokounmpo, who became the first NBA player to average 31-14-6 across a postseason. But playing without Middleton, who had been injured in the opening series against the Bulls, the Bucks were unable to repeat as champions.
June 27, 2022: ‘Rise’ premieres on Disney-Plus
“Rise,” the scripted re-telling of the remarkable Antetokounmpo family story, debuted on the Disney-Plus streaming service. The story follows the rise of Antetokounmpo from his humble beginnings as an immigrant family in Greece into an NBA champion.
April 26, 2023: Bucks shocked by No. 8 seed Heat
With a 128-126 loss in Game 5, the Bucks were stunned in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat, four games to one. The No. 8-seeded Heat wound up reaching the NBA Finals, but that was little consolation to the top-seeded Bucks, who were once again hampered by injury when Antetokounmpo missed two games and most of a third with a back injury suffered in the first game. Antetokounmpo had a triple-double in Game 4, but the Heat won that contest as well as the next one, with Antetokounmpo scoring 38 points with 20 rebounds.
Antetokounmpo’s postgame quotes about failure became a national story, highlighting his thoughtful and philosophical side.
In May, Antetokounmpo and Mariah welcomed their third child, daughter Eva. In May 2025, daughter Aria was born.
Earlier in April, Jimmy and Dee Haslam were approved as co-owners of the Bucks, taking a stake of the team left behind by Marc Lasry.
Sept. 27, 2023: Bucks make blockbuster trade for Damian Lillard
Milwaukee made a bold move, landing one of the top players in NBA history in guard Damian Lillard, part of a blockbuster deal with Portland that sent Holiday out West. The Bucks also surrendered their 2029 first-round pick and used pick swaps for 2028 and 2030. The Bucks also moved on from Budenholzer and added Adrian Griffin, who didn’t last the duration of the season despite a successful record. He was replaced in January 2024 by Doc Rivers.
Oct. 23, 2023: A third extension
Antetokounmpo elected to remain in Milwaukee yet again, signing a three-year deal worth $186 million to stay in Milwaukee. It was his third extension signed with the Bucks.
Dec. 13, 2023: Giannis sets franchise single-game scoring record
Antetokounmpo racked up 64 points against Indiana for a 140-126 win, giving him the Bucks single-game scoring record and shattering the mark of 57 set by Michael Redd 17 years earlier. The game would be remembered for the postgame fight that ensued between Milwaukee and Indiana after confusion about who possessed the game ball.
May 2, 2024: Injury to Giannis leads to another first-round exit
Snakebitten by playoff injuries, the Bucks exited the first round yet again, this time because Antetokounmpo was unavailable with a calf injury he had suffered in April. Middleton scored 24.7 points per game and Lillard added 31.3 despite himself missing two games with an injury, but it wasn’t enough.
July 26, 2024: Giannis is Greece’s flag-bearer in Olympics
Antetokounmpo was given the honor of carrying the flag for Greece at the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he was able to suit up and represent his country. In the game, Greece got out of the qualifying rounds as it appeared in the Olympics for the first time in 16 years.
September 2024: Giannis and Mariah get married
Antetokounmpo married his longtime partner, Mariah Riddlesprigger, in his home country of Greece. Mariah’s philanthropic pursuits included working closely with the Milwaukee Diaper Mission. The couple now have four children together.
Dec. 17, 2024: Giannis named NBA Cup MVP
The prestige around the NBA Cup is still a developing concept, but the Bucks played their best basketball of the season in downing Oklahoma City for the second NBA Cup crown, with Antetokounmpo getting named MVP after the 97-81 win. He posted 26 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in Las Vegas for the title.
Unforgettably Giannis: March 5, 2025 – Giannis gets to 20,000 points
In a 137-107 win over Dallas, Antetokounmpo hit the 20,000-point plateau, making him the 52nd player in the history of the NBA to reach that number.
April 29, 2025: Injuries kill Bucks again in postseason
The Pacers’ 119-118 victory over the Bucks in Game 5 once again sent Milwaukee to a first-round playoff exit, despite 33 points, 15.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game by Antetokounmpo. Middleton was again absent with injury, and Lillard played in only three games – suffering a torn Achilles that would end his season and also likely cost him all of 2025-26. That injury compelled the Bucks to trade Lillard back to Portland and stretch his contract as the organization again pivoted to a new approach in building around Antetokounmpo.
The 2025-26 season: Trouble for the Giannis-Bucks partnership
Trading Lillard didn’t save the Bucks from a truly difficult season ahead.
Antetokounmpo played just 36 games during the 2026 season, hobbled by injuries that became the subject of a late-season dispute, when he wanted to play and the team did not clear him, en route to missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
The team’s 32-50 record was the worst since the 15-win season in 2013-14. Rivers and the Bucks parted ways after the season, with the franchise hiring former Bucks assistant and Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins to take his place. At the introductory press conference, Antetokounmpo was a central topic of discussion, but the cracks in the foundation of the relationship seemed apparent.
Reporting from ESPN’s Shams Charania continued to circle around the idea that a separation between the player and team was imminent, although it didn’t happen at the trade deadline after Charania said Antetokounmpo was “ready for a new home.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The many highlights of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s time in Milwaukee
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
