Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo talked about getting “a little bit freaky” to celebrate his birthday following a win over the Magic on Monday.
During a postgame press conference, the two-time MVP, who turned 28 on Tuesday, had reporters cracking up while he discussed his potential NSFW birthday plans with his longtime girlfriend, Mariah Riddlesprigger.
“I don’t know if my lady has anything planned for me,” said Antetokounmpo, who was holding a Homer Simpson doll. “I hope they have something planned for me. Maybe like a birthday cake, maybe like a birthday card, or maybe like a birthday watch, or maybe jewelry. I would love that.
“I know my family’s watching right now, they should go get them. I would not want to go to dinner, because I have a game the next day. I want to be able to rest and get my treatment I usually do, and take my nap, and play with my kids [sons Liam Charles and Maverick Shai]. Once I put my kids to bed you never know what can happen [winks], you know. Might get a little bit freaky [laughs]. It’s my birthday.”
As for why Antetokounmpo, whose nickname is the Greek Freak, was holding the Homer Simpson character postgame? Bucks forward Sandro Mamukelashvili won it while at Universal on Sunday and brought it to the game, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.
Mamukelashvili apparently left the cartoon doll behind in the locker room, and Antetokounmpo took it to give to his kids.
Antetokounmpo finished with a career-high 34 points on 12-of-21 shooting, to go with 13 rebounds and five assists to defeat the Magic, 109-102.
Antetokounmpo is known for his bubbly personality in press conferences, where he usually tells “dad jokes.” In fact, the Bucks are handing out a free “Giannis Dad Joke bobblehead” to the first 10,000 fans at Wednesday’s home game against the Kings.
