Mario Chalmers

It was the Jayhawks' fifth national title (including two pre-tournament titles in 1922 and 1923).

Almario Vernard "Mario" Chalmers (born May 19, 1986) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Zamboanga Valientes of the ASEAN Basketball League.

Chalmers 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.

Chalmers considered Arizona, North Carolina, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech before finally committing to the University of Kansas on May 21, 2004.

Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Chalmers was listed as the No. 2 point guard and the No. 12 player in the nation in 2005.

Chalmers was named the 2006–07 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament after winning the 2008 NCAA championship.

Chalmers began his college career on the bench behind guard Jeff Hawkins, but worked his way into the starting rotation in January 2006.

He finished the season starting 21 of the final 22 games (missing only senior night).

He finished his freshman year averaging 11.5 points per game, which was second highest on the team.

He became the second freshman in Big 12 history to win Conference Player of the Week honors and was named National Freshman of the Week twice.

He also set the KU and Big 12 Conference record for most steals in a season by a freshman with 89.

Chalmers was named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team, All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches), Third-Team All-Big-12 (AP), Big 12 All-Tournament Team and the Big 12 Tournament MVP after helping Kansas win the Big 12 tournament.

In 33 games, he also averaged 2.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals per game.

Chalmers was second on the team in scoring with 12.3 points per game as a sophomore, recording four 20-point games during the 2006–07 season.

In the Big 12 Coaches Awards, Chalmers was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year with Marcus Dove of Oklahoma State.

He also earned third-team All-Big 12 and All-Big 12 Defensive Team honors.

His season total of 97 steals put him in first place in Kansas basketball history for steals in a single season.

Chalmers averaged 12.8 points per game during his junior year.

He also led the team with 4.3 assists per game, 46.8% three-point shooting accuracy, and 97 steals.

His 97 steals tied the school's single season record, a record that he set as a sophomore.

He scored 30 points in Kansas' win in the Big 12 Conference tournament title game against Texas.

Chalmers was again named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, and earned second-team All-Big 12 honors.

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.

Chalmers helped his team win the 2008 NCAA Championship with a three-point shot with 2.1 seconds left in the final game.

His three just before the end of regulation brought the game into overtime, where Kansas took over and defeated the Memphis Tigers, led by phenom freshman Derrick Rose.

Chalmers was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.

In April 2008, Chalmers declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final year of college eligibility.

In the NBA, he was the starting point guard for two championship-winning teams with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013.

Chalmers is the only Alaskan to win a championship in the high school, college, and pro levels.

After seven seasons with the Heat he was traded to the Grizzlies in November 2015 and waived in March 2016 due to injury.

After missing a season due to injury he returned with the team in the 2017 offseason before going overseas and G-League in 2018.

Mario is the son of Ronnie and Almarie Chalmers, parents who have each played active roles in developing basketball players.

Ronnie Chalmers is a former head basketball coach at Bartlett High School and assistant coach at the University of Kansas.

Almarie Mosley Chalmers has coached many basketball camps and has written a book about raising a basketball family titled The Ball is in Your Court: Embracing Your Child's Dreams. Chalmers has an older sister named Roneka, who lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Chalmers family lived for some time.

Chalmers is the father of four kids.

He has three sons named Zachiah A'mario Chalmers, Prynce Almario Chalmers, and one that has an unknown public name.

In addition, Chalmers has a daughter named Queen Elizabeth Chalmers.

He is the cousin of former Los Angeles Clippers guard Lionel Chalmers, and former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Chris Smith.

Chalmers attended Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska, where he was named the 4A State Player of the Year three times in a row, joining Trajan Langdon as the only other player to receive such acclaim.