Mario Chalmers

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Chalmers attended Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska, where he was named the 4A State Player of the Year three times in a row. He led his high school team to two state championships in 2002 and 2003, and a runner-up finish in 2004. As a senior in 2004–05, he was named a McDonald's All-American as well as a third-team Parade All-American. Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, he was listed as the No. 2 point guard and the No. 12 player in the nation in 2005. He committed to the University of Kansas on May 21, 2004. In college, he began his career on the bench but worked into the starting rotation in January 2006. He set the KU and Big 12 Conference record for most steals in a season by a freshman with 89. As a sophomore, he was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and set the school single-season steals record with 97. As a junior, he tied that record with 97 steals and helped Kansas win the 2008 NCAA Championship with a three-point shot with 2.1 seconds left in the final game to force overtime, where Kansas defeated Memphis. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. His jersey #15 was retired by Kansas on February 16, 2013.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Chalmers' professional career arrived in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. With the series tied and the Heat facing elimination on June 18, the game remained tight until the final seconds. Chalmers drove down the court and launched a three-pointer from the top of the key as time expired, tying the game at 95–95 and forcing overtime. In the extra session, he scored 20 points to help Miami secure a 103–100 victory. Two days later, on June 20, the Heat defeated the Spurs to win their second consecutive title. This performance capped a season where Chalmers had already set a career-high with 34 points against the Sacramento Kings on January 12, 2013, tying the franchise record for three-pointers in a game with 10.

Reader's Guide

Chalmers was drafted with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2008 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the rights were later included in a trade with the Miami Heat. He signed with the Heat on July 8, 2008. He started all 82 regular season games his rookie year. In his fourth NBA game, he set a franchise record for steals in a game with nine. After the Heat acquired LeBron James in July 2010, Chalmers handed over No. 6 to James and changed to his collegiate number of 15. He re-signed with the Heat on December 9, 2011, on a three-year, $12 million contract. He won his first NBA title in 2012 and his second in 2013. On January 12, 2013, he scored a career-high 34 points against the Sacramento Kings, making 10 three-pointers, tying the Heat's record for most three-pointers in a game. He was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in November 2015 and waived in March 2016 due to injury.

Did You Know?

• Chalmers is the only Alaskan to win a championship at the high school, college, and pro levels.
• He set a Miami Heat franchise record for steals in a game with nine in just his fourth NBA game.
• His three-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in the 2008 NCAA championship game forced overtime, leading Kansas to victory.
• He tied the Heat's record for most three-pointers in a game with 10 on January 12, 2013.