Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long-awaited moment of international triumph was bittersweet. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar finally won his first medal with Greece at EuroBasket 2025, helping secure bronze after a dramatic 92-89 victory over Finland. But away from the court, Antetokounmpo’s family was forced to deal with something far darker than basketball losses: death threats.
Mariah Riddlesprigger, Giannis’ wife, revealed on Instagram that she and their family had been targeted with disturbing private messages during the tournament. One Turkish fan allegedly threatened the safety of their children, blaming the Antetokounmpos for Greece’s heated semifinal clash with Turkey. Mariah shared a screenshot of the threat and refused to stay silent.
“People in this world are so disappointing! All over a basketball! I hope that those making hateful comments and sending disgusting messages to my family are proud of yourselves!”
“But since you want to reach out to me privately, I will be sure to let the world know publicly who you are! And to all Turkiye fans, congratulations on your medal, y’all have an amazing team! However, to your fans, there’s no place for this type of behavior in sports. Actually, there’s no place for this type of behavior period!”
The threats came just hours after a viral moment involving Giannis himself. Following the bronze medal match, he went live on Instagram to share the team’s celebrations, only to see his comments flooded with Turkish flags.
Out of frustration, Giannis snapped: “Take the f***ing Turkish flag out of here!”
Turkish media framed his outburst as “cursing the flag,” which sparked outrage online and led to more backlash from opposing fans.
The tension between Giannis and Turkey had already been building. In the semifinal, Greece was dismantled 94-68 by a dominant Turkish squad led by Alperen Sengun, who finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists.
Sengun even suggested afterward that Giannis’ passing weaknesses were key to Turkey’s victory. While Giannis averaged an impressive 27.3 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across the tournament, his semifinal stat line of 12 points, 12 boards, five assists, and five turnovers was one of his worst international showings.
Still, Giannis bounced back with a monster 43-point, 17-rebound performance against Finland to clinch bronze. It was Greece’s first medal in 16 years, a milestone that left the two-time MVP in tears. But while his on-court story was one of redemption, the abuse directed at his family became a troubling subplot.
For Mariah, the threats hit especially hard because they were aimed at her children. By making the messages public, she stripped away the shield of anonymity and reminded the world that there is a human cost to this kind of behavior.
Giannis may have finally earned his international medal, but EuroBasket 2025 will be remembered not just for his emotional triumph, but also for the ugly reminder that athletes’ families are too often dragged into the chaos of fan rivalry.
