Gregory Vargas
Gregory Maxdier Vargas Díaz[1] (born February 18, 1986) is a Venezuelan professional basketball player, who lastly played for Cluj of the Romanian Liga Națională. He was the Israeli Basketball Premier League Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, and the Israeli Premier League Assists Leader in 2017 and 2020.
![]() Vargas with Maccabi Haifa in September 2015 | |
Free Agent | |
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Position | Point guard |
Personal information | |
Born | Ocumare Del Tuy, Venezuela | February 18, 1986
Nationality | Venezuelan |
Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) |
Career information | |
NBA draft | 2008 / Undrafted |
Playing career | 2004–present |
Career history | |
2004 | Patriotas de Guarico |
2004–2005 | Pescadores de Cumana |
2005–2008 | Panteras de Miranda |
2006–2007 | Pescadores de Sucre |
2008–2016 | Marinos de Anzoátegui |
2008 | Centauros de Cojedes |
2008 | Petroleros de Falcon |
2008–2011 | Angeles de Puebla |
2009 | Piratas Saludcoop Bogota |
2009 | Lanceros de Cojedes |
2009 | Tiburones de Vargas |
2011 | Reales de La Vega |
2011–2012 | Halcones Rojos Veracruz |
2012–2013 | Halcones UV Xalapa |
2013 | Caquetíos de Falcón |
2014 | Brujos de Guayama |
2014 | Maratonistas de Coamo |
2014 | Protectores de Miranda |
2015–2016 | Maccabi Haifa |
2016 | SLUC Nancy |
2016–2017 | Maccabi Haifa |
2017–2018 | Baloncesto Fuenlabrada |
2018–2019 | Guaros de Lara |
2019–2020 | Maccabi Haifa |
2020 | Cluj |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Medals
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Professional career
In the 2015–16 season, Vargas averaged 13.9 points and 6.4 assists per game in the Israeli Premier League, with Maccabi Haifa.[2]
Vargas also played against the NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies as a part of Maccabi Haifa, in an NBA preseason game.[3] He scored over 20 points in 8 games, and had 10 or more assists in 3 games as well, during the 2015–16 season.[4][5][6]
On July 7, 2016, Vargas signed with French club SLUC Nancy.[7] In November 2016, he left Nancy after appearing in eight games.[8]
On December 17, 2016, he returned to his former club Maccabi Haifa.,[9] During his season with the club he won Israeli Super League Defensive Player of the Year award and helped Haifa reaching the Israeli League Finals. He was the Israeli Basketball Premier League Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. He was also the Israeli Premier League Assists Leader in 2017.
On July 20, 2017, Vargas signed with the Spanish club Baloncesto Fuenlabrada of the Liga ACB for the 2017–18 season.[10]
On August 1, 2019, Vargas returned to Maccabi Haifa for a third stint, signing a one-year deal.[11] On February 3, 2020, Vargas recorded a triple-double 16 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists, leading Haifa to a 93–84 win over Hapoel Gilboa Galil. He was subsequently named Israeli League Round 18 MVP.[12] He was the Israeli Premier League Assists Leader in 2019-20.
On July 2, 2020, he has signed with Cluj of the Romanian Liga Națională.[13]
National team career
Vargas is a member of the senior men's Venezuelan national basketball team. As a member of the team at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship,[14] he helped Venezuela to defeat Uruguay[15] and Canada to win the gold medal. That was Venezuela's first FIBA Americas Championship,[16] and allowed them to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, where Vargas also played with Venezuela.[17]
Player profile
Vargas was described as a tough FIBA player, who could be a college basketball All-American, by ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla.[18]
Personal
Vargas' older brother, José, is also a professional basketball player. The two brothers have played together on the senior men's Venezuelan national basketball team.
References
- "ASISTENCIAS". lnbp.com.mx (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
- "Gregory Vargas profile - Game center - FIBA.com".
- Contributing Writer (11 October 2015). "Lakers Vs. Maccabi Hafia Preview: L.A. Looks To End Three Game Losing Streak". Lakers Nation.
- "Gregory VARGAS | Season 2015/2016".
- "Mac Tel Aviv humiliated on the road by Mac Haifa". The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com.
- "Greens grab dramatic victory over Ness Ziona". The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com.
- "SLUC Nancy inks Gregory Vargas".
- "Pro A : Gregory Vargas quitte Nancy". L'Équipe.
- "Maccabi Haifa signs Gregory Vargas".
- "Gregory Vargas signs with Fuenlabrada".
- "הוא חוזר: גרגורי ורגאס שוב ירוק". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
- "מצטיין המחזור ה-18: גרגורי ורגאס". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). February 4, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
- "Gregory Vargas inks with Cluj". Sportando. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- "2016 Olympic Games: Tournament for Men - Vargas, Venezuela hope for another incredible summer - FIBA.com". FIBA.com.
- "FIBA Americas results and recap, featuring Jack Michael Martinez vs. Luis Scola". ProBasketballTalk.
- "Canadian Men's Basketball fails to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics". The Brock Press.
- AP Member Choice Complete (11 September 2015). "John Calipari acknowledges former players as he enters Hall of Fame". latimes.com.
- Baltimore Sun (23 July 2015). "Experience in Pan American games will help Melo Trimble, ESPN analyst says". baltimoresun.com.