Mario Chalmers. Photo from NBA.com.
Sioux Falls, SD – The Sioux Falls Skyforce announced today that the team has acquired 10-year NBA veteran and former Miami HEAT guard Mario Chalmers from the available player pool.
Chalmers, a 6-2, 290-pund guard out of Kansas was the fourth pick of the second round in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. His rights were traded to the Miami HEAT, where he spent a part of nine seasons with the organization.
He averaged 8.9 points on 41.7 percent shooting, 2.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 646 NBA games (400 starts). Chalmers also appeared in 99 NBA Playoff games (73 starts) for the HEAT, averaging 8.8 points on 42.9 percent shooting, 2.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals. He was a key member of the back-to-back NBA Championship teams, averaging 11.3 and 9.4 points in each postseason.
Chalmers most recently was signed by the HEAT on a 10-day hardship contract on December 31, 2021. Before his 10-day contract, he played in two games in the 2021 Winter Showcase for the Grand Rapids Gold, averaging 8.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals.
After his most recent season in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies in 2017-18, Chalmers spent three seasons playing overseas for Virtus Bologna, AEK Athens, Aris BC and Indios de Mayaguez, where he averaged 7.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists.
He spent three seasons at Kansas before declaring for the draft, and averaged 12.2 points on 48.6 percent shooting, 2.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.8 steals from 2005-08. He helped guide the Jayhawks to their third NCAA National Championship in 2008, which he was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and to the Final Four All-Tournament Team.
In addition to Chalmers, Brandon Knight also returns to the roster after the completion of his 10-day hardship contract with the Dallas Mavericks. Pedro Bradshaw and Jay Henderson were waived to complete the transaction.
Chalmers is expected to be available for the team’s upcoming home series against the Memphis Hustle this weekend. The first game is slated for 7:00 PM CST from the Sanford Pentagon, while the finale on Sunday at 3:00 PM CST.
(The Sioux Falls Skyforce contributed this report/news release.)
