It’s the offseason, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a ring. Giannis Antetokounmpo just did that as he married his long-time girlfriend Mariah Riddlesprigger. In the scenic beauty of Pylos, Greece, the couple tied the knot, giving an official name to their 10-year-long relationship. Many of his teammates from the franchise and national team, along with multiple NBA stars were present but there was no sign of his on-court soulmate, Damian Lillard.

Lillard recently wrapped up his yearly basketball camp in Beaverton and was busy with something else. Given their closeness in Milwaukee, which led to the duo’s “Freak Time” naming, the 33-year-old’s absence can raise some questions about their current dynamic. But that didn’t stop Giannis from having a good time.

Sunday’s wedding ceremony was the final day of a 3-day celebration. Friday was about the “White Party” with all the guests attending clad in white clothing. Saturday was about celebrating Giannis’ Nigerian roots with a “Nigerian Night”. Apart from his brothers, LeBron James and Jrue Holiday, Khris Middleton, the franchise owners, multiple Greek teammates, and tennis icon Serena Williams were present at the party to bless the newlywed. The wedding followed a “Hybrid” Greek Orthodox and Catholic ceremony, acknowledging the couple’s individual ethnicity and beliefs.

Giannis and Mariah have 3 children together: son Liam, born in February 2020; second son, Maverick, born in August 2021; and finally, daughter Eva, who’ll turn 1 year this month. The couple wanted the occasion to be a private one with no media coverage. According to the Proto Thema newspaper, “Remarkably, everyone working on the wedding has signed a confidentiality agreement to ensure the couple’s complete privacy.”  

Coming back to Milwaukee, Lillard is busy promoting his Dame 9 signature shoe and also attended another wedding with Evan Turner. Dame already revealed his troubled stay in the city following his move from the Blazers because of personal issues. He even had on-court issues fitting into the Bucks system alongside Giannis, which resulted in a dip in numbers. Lillard even acknowledged it, highlighting the reality of his dynamic with Ugo.

Damian Lillard opens up about his dynamic with Giannis Antetokounmpo

After the Bucks’ premature exit from the playoffs, the biggest talking point became Damian Lillard’s future. His difficulty in adjusting to Milwaukee and distance from his kids made the 6-time All-Star restless. But he trashed all the trade rumors with a 2-word message, reiterating his commitment to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo. But his experience was a bit challenging and Dame opened up about it recently.

During an episode of the Club 520 Podcast, Lillard opened up about his connection with Giannis. “I’m used to having the ball too. But I came into the situation like, I got to be a great complement to Giannis. So, I knew it wasn’t going to be what it was in Portland but I think it was just an adjustment for him.” But sharing the ball with Giannis wasn’t all doom and gloom for the ball-dominant PG.

“The best part about it is like, we having a conversation about it. It ain’t like, he was just like, ‘I’m not changing.’ He was like, ‘Dame, sometimes you just gotta tell me like, Pass the f**king ball. You gotta tell me cause all I know is, Go’…And he mean it though,” Dame added. Earlier this year, Lillard emphasized how it takes time for a relationship to be built. Probably the duo haven’t formed that sort of bond yet to be attending weddings contrary to popular beliefs.