Former KU guard Mario Chalmers to sign with Denver Nuggets’ G League team
Mario Chalmers, who won an NCAA championship at Kansas and a pair of NBA titles with the Miami Heat, is signing with the Denver Nuggets‘ G League affiliate Grand Rapids Gold and will play in the G League Showcase Sunday through Wednesday, Chams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Saturday.
A Chalmers family member confirmed the report in a direct social media message to The Star.
JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors had reported on Tuesday that 35-year-old combo guard Chalmers had signed a contract in the G League and would be free to sign with any team if he went unclaimed on waivers over a 48-hour period.
He bypassed interest from multiple teams overseas to play in the G League, Hoops Rumors Indicated.
Chalmers, a member of KU’s 2008 NCAA title team, appeared in 22 games for Aris Basketball Club of Greece during the 2020-21 season. He averaged 10.5 points (on 46% shooting, 37% from three) and 2.3 assists per game. He last played in the NBA in 2018 with the Memphis Grizzlies. Since then, he has played in Italy, Greece and Puerto Rico.
“Finishing my career where I started would mean the world to me,” Chalmers said as quoted by Hoops Rumors, referring to playing in the NBA. “I first got drafted into the NBA. I never had dreams of walking away from the game of basketball overseas, so this would be a great way to end my career. Just being back at home in front of the fans that helped me get to where I am today.
“I have a lot left in the tank,” Chalmers added. “I have fresh legs, a fresh body and am ready for that full NBA grind again. A lot of teams are fighting for those 16 playoff spots, so at the end of the day if someone gets hurt or COVID becomes an issue I’m ready. I’ve been in the gym. I catch on fast and won’t miss a beat. I’ve been there before. At the end of the day I know what it takes to help win a championship.”
Chalmers was a second-round pick of the Heat in 2008 after playing three seasons at KU. He started for the Heat at guard between 2010-15. He played nine years in the league, also competing for Memphis.
This story was originally published December 18, 2021 at 5:02 PM with the headline "Former KU guard Mario Chalmers to sign with Denver Nuggets’ G League team."
