Mario Chalmers Biography

Mario Chalmers, born May 19, 1986, is an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA. Selected 34th overall in the 2008 NBA draft, he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves after three seasons at the University of Kansas. He earned the 2006–07 Co-Defensive Player of the Year honor and was named Most Outstanding Player during the 2008 NCAA championship. Chalmers is the only Alaskan to win a title at the high school, college, and professional levels. His father, Ronnie Chalmers, served as a head basketball coach at Bartlett High School and as an assistant at the University of Kansas. He led his high school team to state championships in 2002 and 2003, and a runner-up finish in 2004. After considering Arizona, North Carolina, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech, he committed to the University of Kansas on May 21, 2004.