Almario Vernard “Mario” Chalmers is an American professional basketball player for the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. He was selected as the 34th overall pick in the 2008 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves after playing three seasons of college basketball for the University of Kansas.
- Source of Wealth: Basketball
- Age: 37 Years of 2024
- Birth Place: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
- Height: 6′ 2″ (1.88 m)
- Weight: 190 lbs (86 kg)
- Marital Status: Single
- Full Name: Almario Vernard Chalmers
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: May 19, 1986
- Occupation: Professional Basketball Player
- Education: Bartlett-Begich High School, University of Kansas
- Children: 2 (Zachariah A’Mario, Queen Elizabeth)
Not long after, he was traded to the Miami Heat. In December 2011, he was signed by the Miami Heat to a 3-year $12 million contract. In July 2011, when LeBron James officially announced his intention to join the Miami Heat, Chalmers immediately changed his collegiate number to 15 and James took Chalmers’ old number 6.
Early Life:
Chalmers went to Bartlett High School, which is located in Anchorage, Alaska. There, Chalmers was named the 4A State Player of the Year — three times in a row, as a matter of fact. Chalmers joined a rare sort of company with Trajan Langdon, who was the only other player to do so at that time. Chalmers would go on to lead his Bartlett squad to not one, but two state championships (2002 and 2003). Bartlett would also earn a runner-up finish in 2004 with Chalmers guiding the team. Chalmers would earn accolades as a five-star recruit from reputable source Rivals.com. Chalmers would be listed as the No. 2 point guard in the nation as well as the No. 12 overall player in the nation (2005).
NCAA Career:
Chalmers had many topflight colleges contending for him, Arizona, North Carolina, and Wake Forest — to name a few. Chalmers would end up giving his commitment to the University of Kansas in 2004.
Chalmers would start his college career on the bench, playing backup to Jeff Hawkins. Chalmers worked his way into Kansas’s starting rotation as of January in 2006. Chalmers would finish his freshman season starting 21 of Kansas’s final 22 games. Chalmers ended up finishing out his inaugural NCAA season with an 11.5 points per game average, which put him at the second leading scorer spot for Kansas. Chalmers was only the second freshman in Big 12 history to earn Conference Player of the Week honors. Chalmers was also named National Freshman of the Week on two occasions.
By Chalmers’s junior year he had averaged 12.8 points per game, leading the team in assists (4.3), and putting up 46.8% 3-point shooting accuracy. Chalmers also put up 97 steals, tying the school single season record. Chalmers helped Kansas win the 2008 NCAA Championship. Chalmers put up a dramatic three-point shot with 2.1 seconds left on the game clock. His contribution put Kansas in the game and gave them an overtime victory as the Jayhawks defeated the Memphis Tigers. In April 2008, Chalmers would enter the NBA draft.
NBA Career:
Chalmers was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in NBA Draft and would be traded quickly to the Miami Heat. Chalmers would experience adversity as he was removed from the NBA’s Rookie Transition program after being suspected of marijuana use in 2008. Chalmers was never charged, yet he received a fine of $20,000 due to missing his rookie camp. Chalmers, however, bounced back quickly. During his fourth game with the Miami Heat Chalmers set a new steals record, recording nine in a single game. Chalmers would become a free agent during the NBA off season and would re-sign with the Miami Heat for the 2011 NBA season. Chalmers would go on to win his very first NBA Championship with the Heat after a game five victory in 2012 over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chalmers would continue to play for the Heat through the 2014-2015 NBA season.
On November 10, 2015, Chalmers would be traded from the Heat along with James Ennis to the Memphis Grizzlies. The trade was executed in exchange for Jarnell Stokes and Beno Udrih. Chalmers would make his debut for the Grizzlies team just three days later. Chalmers would score 11 points off the bench in a Memphis win over the Portland Trail Blazers. On November 16, 2015, Chalmers would go on to score a season-high 29 points in a Memphis win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chalmers would experience a significant injury during a game on March 10, 2016 and would be ruled out for the rest of the season due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon. As a result, Chalmers would be subsequently waived by the Memphis Grizzlies.