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.

Gregory Vargas
Vargas with Maccabi Haifa in September 2015
Free Agent
PositionPoint guard
Personal information
Born (1986-02-18) February 18, 1986
Ocumare Del Tuy, Venezuela
NationalityVenezuelan
Listed height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
NBA draft2008 / Undrafted
Playing career2004–present
Career history
2004Patriotas de Guarico
2004–2005Pescadores de Cumana
2005–2008Panteras de Miranda
2006–2007Pescadores de Sucre
2008–2016Marinos de Anzoátegui
2008Centauros de Cojedes
2008Petroleros de Falcon
2008–2011Angeles de Puebla
2009Piratas Saludcoop Bogota
2009Lanceros de Cojedes
2009Tiburones de Vargas
2011Reales de La Vega
2011–2012Halcones Rojos Veracruz
2012–2013Halcones UV Xalapa
2013Caquetíos de Falcón
2014Brujos de Guayama
2014Maratonistas de Coamo
2014Protectores de Miranda
2015–2016Maccabi Haifa
2016SLUC Nancy
2016–2017Maccabi Haifa
2017–2018Baloncesto Fuenlabrada
2018–2019Guaros de Lara
2019–2020Maccabi Haifa
2020Cluj
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Venezuela
FIBA South American Championship
2014 Venezuela
2016 Venezuela
2012 Argentina
FIBA AmeriCup
2015 Mexico

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
  1. "ASISTENCIAS". lnbp.com.mx (in Spanish). Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  2. "Gregory Vargas profile - Game center - FIBA.com".
  3. Contributing Writer (11 October 2015). "Lakers Vs. Maccabi Hafia Preview: L.A. Looks To End Three Game Losing Streak". Lakers Nation.
  4. "Gregory VARGAS | Season 2015/2016".
  5. "Mac Tel Aviv humiliated on the road by Mac Haifa". The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com.
  6. "Greens grab dramatic victory over Ness Ziona". The Jerusalem Post - JPost.com.
  7. "SLUC Nancy inks Gregory Vargas".
  8. "Pro A : Gregory Vargas quitte Nancy". L'Équipe.
  9. "Maccabi Haifa signs Gregory Vargas".
  10. "Gregory Vargas signs with Fuenlabrada".
  11. "הוא חוזר: גרגורי ורגאס שוב ירוק". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  12. "מצטיין המחזור ה-18: גרגורי ורגאס". basket.co.il (in Hebrew). February 4, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  13. "Gregory Vargas inks with Cluj". Sportando. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  14. "2016 Olympic Games: Tournament for Men - Vargas, Venezuela hope for another incredible summer - FIBA.com". FIBA.com.
  15. "FIBA Americas results and recap, featuring Jack Michael Martinez vs. Luis Scola". ProBasketballTalk.
  16. "Canadian Men's Basketball fails to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics". The Brock Press.
  17. AP Member Choice Complete (11 September 2015). "John Calipari acknowledges former players as he enters Hall of Fame". latimes.com.
  18. Baltimore Sun (23 July 2015). "Experience in Pan American games will help Melo Trimble, ESPN analyst says". baltimoresun.com.
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