Mario Chalmers facts for kids
Chalmers with the Miami Heat in 2009
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| Free agent | |
|---|---|
| Point guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | May 19, 1986 Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. |
| High school | Bartlett (Anchorage, Alaska) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kansas (2005–2008) |
| NBA Draft | 2008 / Round: 2 / Pick: 34th overall |
| Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| Pro career | 2008–present |
| Career history | |
| 2008–2015 | Miami Heat |
| 2015–2016, 2017–2018 |
Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2019 | Virtus Bologna |
| 2019–2020 | AEK Athens |
| 2020–2021 | Aris Thessaloniki |
| 2021 | Indios de Mayagüez |
| 2021 | Grand Rapids Gold |
| 2022 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
| 2023 | Zamboanga Valientes |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Almario Vernard "Mario" Chalmers (born May 19, 1986) is an American professional basketball player. He last played for the Zamboanga Valientes team. Chalmers was picked 34th overall in the 2008 NBA draft after playing three years of college basketball. He played for the University of Kansas.
Chalmers was named the 2006–07 Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He also won the Most Outstanding Player award in the 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. This was after his team won the 2008 NCAA championship. In the NBA, he was the main point guard for the Miami Heat. He helped them win two championships in 2012 and 2013. Mario Chalmers is the only person from Alaska to win championships at high school, college, and professional levels.
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About Mario Chalmers' Family
Mario Chalmers' parents, Ronnie and Almarie, have both been very involved in basketball. His father, Ronnie, was a high school basketball coach. He also worked as an assistant coach at the University of Kansas. Mario's mother, Almarie, has coached many basketball camps. She even wrote a book about raising a basketball family. It is called The Ball is in Your Court: Embracing Your Child's Dreams.
Mario has an older sister named Roneka. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mario is a father to four children. He has three sons and one daughter. His daughter's name is Queen Elizabeth Chalmers. Mario is also related to other basketball players. His cousins, Lionel Chalmers and Chris Smith, also played as guards in the NBA.
High School Basketball Career
Mario Chalmers went to Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. He was named the 4A State Player of the Year three times in a row. Only one other player, Trajan Langdon, has achieved this honor. Chalmers led his high school team to two state championships. They won in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, they finished as runner-up.
In his senior year (2004–05), he was chosen as a McDonald's All-American. This means he was one of the best high school players in the country. He was also named a third-team Parade All-American. Experts like Rivals.com thought Chalmers was a top player. They ranked him as the No. 2 point guard in the nation in 2005.
College Basketball Journey
Mario Chalmers chose to play college basketball for the University of Kansas. He joined the team on May 21, 2004. Other top schools like Arizona and North Carolina were also interested in him.
Freshman Year Success (2005–06)
Chalmers started his college career on the bench. But he quickly earned a spot in the starting lineup by January 2006. He started 21 of the last 22 games that season. He was the second-highest scorer on his team, averaging 11.5 points per game. He also set a new record for most steals by a freshman in the Big 12 Conference with 89 steals. Chalmers was recognized for his great play. He was named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team and the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. He also won the Big 12 Tournament MVP award. This was after helping Kansas win the Big 12 tournament.
Sophomore and Junior Years (2006–08)
As a sophomore, Chalmers continued to play well. He averaged 12.3 points per game. He was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Big 12. He also set a new school record for steals in a single season with 97. He tied this record again in his junior year. In his junior year, he averaged 12.8 points and 4.3 assists per game. He was also very good at shooting three-pointers, making 46.8% of them.
Winning the NCAA Championship (2008)
Chalmers played a huge role in helping his team win the 2008 NCAA Championship. In the final game against the Memphis Tigers, he made a game-tying three-point shot. This shot came with only 2.1 seconds left in the game. It sent the game into overtime. Kansas then won the game in overtime. Chalmers was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament. This was Kansas's fifth national title.
After winning the championship, Chalmers decided to enter the NBA draft. He gave up his last year of college eligibility. On February 16, 2013, the University of Kansas honored him. They retired his jersey number, 15.
Professional Basketball Career
Miami Heat (2008–2015)
Mario Chalmers was picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2008 NBA draft. He was the 34th overall pick. However, his draft rights were soon traded to the Miami Heat. He signed with the Heat on July 8, 2008. Chalmers was excused from the NBA's rookie program.
Rookie Season (2008–09)
In his first NBA season, Chalmers started all 82 regular season games. He averaged 10 points, 4.9 assists, and 2 steals per game. His 2 steals per game were the most among all rookies. They were also the fourth highest among all NBA players. On November 5, 2008, in only his fourth NBA game, Chalmers set a team record. He had nine steals in a single game.
Later Seasons with the Heat
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In 2010, when LeBron James joined the Heat, Chalmers changed his jersey number. He gave his No. 6 jersey to James and started wearing No. 15, his college number.
Chalmers played a key role in the Heat's success. On June 15, 2011, the Heat offered him a new contract. He re-signed with the team on December 9, 2011. He signed a three-year, $12 million contract. In 2012, Chalmers was chosen to take part in the NBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Shootout.
Winning NBA Championships
Chalmers was praised for his 25-point game in Game 4 of the 2012 NBA Finals. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to help the Heat win. In Game 5, he helped the Heat win the 2012 NBA championship. This was his first NBA title.
On January 12, 2013, Chalmers scored a career-high 34 points against the Sacramento Kings. He made 10 three-pointers in that game, tying a Heat record. In Game 2 of the 2013 NBA Finals, he led all scorers with 19 points. The Heat won that game and tied the series. He scored 20 points in Game 6, helping the Heat win. He won his second championship on June 20, 2013. The Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs in an exciting seven-game series.
In the 2014 NBA Finals, the Heat faced the Spurs again. Chalmers struggled in this series. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Ray Allen in Game 5. The Heat lost the series in five games. Chalmers re-signed with the Heat on July 14, 2014.
Memphis Grizzlies (2015–2018)
On November 10, 2015, Chalmers was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He played his first game for the Grizzlies three days later. On November 16, 2015, he scored a season-high 29 points. On March 10, 2016, Chalmers suffered a serious injury. He ruptured his right Achilles tendon and missed the rest of the season. He was then released by the Grizzlies.
After recovering from his injury, Chalmers re-signed with the Grizzlies on July 19, 2017.
Playing Overseas and in the G-League
After his time with the Grizzlies, Chalmers played for several teams outside the NBA.
- In March 2019, he joined Virtus Bologna in Italy. He helped them win the 2019 FIBA Champions League title.
- In November 2019, Chalmers joined AEK Athens in Greece.
- In September 2020, he signed with Aris Thessaloniki, also in Greece.
- In September 2021, he played for Indios de Mayagüez in Puerto Rico.
- In December 2021, Chalmers signed with the Grand Rapids Gold in the NBA G League.
- In January 2022, he joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
- In January 2023, Chalmers signed with Zamboanga Valientes in the ASEAN Basketball League.
Charity Work
Mario Chalmers is the founder of the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation. This foundation helps children by supporting sports and education programs. It also helps fund research for breast cancer. In 2013, Chalmers started a youth basketball program called Team Rio National. This program helps young boys develop their basketball skills.
Chalmers also hosts his own yearly basketball camp. It is called the Mario Chalmers Miracle Shot Basketball Camp. The camp helps kids learn and improve their basketball skills. He has held these camps in his college town, Lawrence, Kansas, and his hometown, Anchorage, Alaska. The camp is for both beginners and more advanced players.
See also
In Spanish: Mario Chalmers para niños
- List of National Basketball Association single-game steals leaders
