Calculated risk: the players who returned to Israel the most times Israel today

Eric Griffin signed a few days ago with Hapoel Eilat.

This is the fifth time the forward has returned here in recent years.

In all the previous times he provided the goods and the one who takes it is considered to be on the safe side.

But Griffin is not alone.

There are quite a few players who make their way back to Israel time and time again.

They like to come back here, they know the league and are suited to the basketball that is played here.

The teams know the stakes are small and it's usually a win-win deal for everyone.

Quite a few times they come during the season when the teams are in trouble, so the fear of gambling is great, but on the other hand sometimes it is the easy solution to go for the familiar.

We have prepared for you in "Israel Hayom" a list of the foreigners who have returned to Israel the most times since the beginning of the previous decade.

The emphasis is not on the number of years here, but on the number of terms.

All of them are getting older, but except for one, they are still active and there will be some who haven't even done the last round in our country yet.

Damon Simpson - 7 terms 

A true basketball vagabond, who played almost in every corner of the globe, but most often in Israel.

In fact, he is the peak of terms of office in Israel during the period we are talking about.

He's almost 35 and has been here seven times since 2012, including last season.

He was in two teams twice (Nes Ziona and Maccabi Rishon LeZion), and also played in Ashdod, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ironi Nahariya.

Damon Simpson against Onuaku in the last season in Maccabi Rishon Lezion, photo: Oded Karni

Jeremy Fargo - 6 terms

Jeremy Fargo began his professional career in Israel and was here for a considerable part of it.

He started big with a surprising championship of Gilboa/Galil in 2010.

Then came three terms at Maccabi Tel Aviv and seasons at Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Rishon Lezion.

During his six terms, he played twice under Guy Godes and twice under Oded Ketch.

He is 36 years old, and last season he played in the development league and a little bit in Italy.

It is not certain that there will be a seventh term in Israel.

Fargo Bones.

In Israel they will certainly not forget him, photo: Alan Shiver

Eric Griffin - 5 terms

From 2016, Griffin will play for the fifth time in Israel.

He started in Hapoel Gilboa/Galil under Ariel Beit HaLahami and in the last few days he signed in Hapoel Eilat under the same coach.

This is his second term in the southern city.

The 32-year-old forward also played for Hapoel Beer Sheva and Nahariya.

Last season he was at BAK Athens with Stefanos Dedas, who signed him after he was impressed by him when he coached Hapoel Holon here.

Eric Griffin.

Joins an interesting list, photo: Liron Moldovan

Paul Stoll - 5 terms

The Mexican coordinator was the brilliance of Brad Greenberg in the championship in 12/13 in Maccabi Haifa, then he shone less.

He was two terms at Maccabi Ashdod (again Greenberg) and two at Hapoel Tel Aviv, including last season.

In the last three terms, he arrived in the middle of the season.

He is 36 years old, but still active at full speed and playing this summer in Mexico. 

Paul Stoll.

Still active at full speed, photo: Oded Karni

Gregory Vargas - 4 terms

Vargas came to Israel four times, but his unique part is that they were all in the city of Haifa.

The center from Venezuela first landed in 2015 in Maccabi, with which he reached many achievements, when he led it to the Final Four and was the king of assists and the defensive player of the season.

After two more terms in the greens, he played last season in Hapoel Haifa.

He is 36 years old, but apparently he is not thinking about ending his career yet.

Now playing in the league in Venezuela.

Gregory Vargas.

Find a warm home in Haifa, photo: Maor Alxalsi

Jason Seegers - 4 terms 

He only came at the age of 30 to Gilboa/Galil which played in the second league and helped it qualify for the first league and stayed there.

He did exactly the same move with Hapoel Haifa.

The scorer, who is known for his clutch baskets, is going to start his seventh season here next season, four of them in the national team.

The 37-year-old guard also played in Maccabi Rishon Lezion, and in the last two years in Maccabi Ra'anana.

Jason Seegers.

On the way to the seventh season in Israel, photo: Yehuda Ben Itach

Tony Gafni - 4 terms 

Played four terms in Israel, in four teams, three times under Danny Franco.

His first team as a professional was Gilboa/Galil in 2009, but he left after a short period.

Then he played two years in Jerusalem with which he won one championship, and was also in Hapoel Tel Aviv and Nahariya.

Gafni, now 37 years old, retired two years ago.

Tom Gaffney.

Retired two years ago, photo: Alan Shiver

*Final note: At the beginning of the previous decade, Brian Tolbert, who played here for seven consecutive seasons in the Premier League in five different teams, retired.

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